Classifications in swimming are designed to help group athletes with physical disabilities. The classification system is designed by the Paralympic committee that organizes the Paralympics every four years. Swimming is the only Paralympic sport that considers limb loss, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries and other disabilities as a part of determining an athlete's classification. A swimmer's classification can change based on the event and specific swimming stroke being performed.
Visual Impairment
Swimmers who have a visual impairment are grouped into three classes based on the severity of their vision loss. Category 11 is for athletes with a vision impairment grading of "no sight," while category 13 is designated for swimmers considered legally blind. Category 12 is for swimmers whose visual impairment grading falls somewhere between categories 11 and 13. Swimmers with a visual impairment can participate in the 50, 100 and 400 m freestyle events, 100 m backstroke, 100 m breaststroke, 100 m butterfly, 200 m individual medley, the 4 by 100 freestyle relay and the 4 by 100 medley relay.
Physical Disabilities
Swimmers with physical disabilities are placed into groups marked 1 through 10. The severity of the disability determines which group a swimmer is placed into. A disability is graded based on several factors, including an athlete's muscle strength, movement capabilities, overall coordination, joint range of motion and limb length, when applicable. Swimmers with minimal disabilities are placed into a high-numbered category, while swimmers with severe disabilities are grouped into a low-numbered category. Athletes must complete basic water exercises and demonstrate their ability to perform each stroke to help determine their classification.
Physical Disability Events
Swimmers with a physical disability classification can partake in a large variety of events, depending on their specific classification group. All swimmers in groups 1 through 10 can compete in the 50 and 100 m freestyle event, as well as the 4 by 50 m and 4 by 100 m freestyle and medley relays. Other competition events include 200 and 400 m freestyle, 50 and 100 m backstroke, 50 and 100 m butterfly, 50 and 100 m breaststroke and the 150 and 200 individual medley relays.
Intellectual Disability
The classification group number 14 is reserved for swimmers with an intellectual disability.
Classification Guidelines
Each classification, groups 1 through 14, are preceded with an "S," "SB" or "SM," which denote the type of event in which the swimmer is competing. The letter "S" stands for freestyle, backstroke and butterfly, while the letters "SB" stand for breaststroke. The letters "SM" stand for individual medley. Therefore, a swimmer with a severe physical ability who is competing in the breaststroke might receive a classification of "SB2," while a swimmer who is legally blind who is competing in the backstroke receives a classification of "S13."
Race Start
Depending on the class of the event, swimmers may start the race by jumping into the water off a platform or begin racing from the water. An athlete's ability to jump from a platform is taken into consideration when classifying him, which ensures he can compete only in event classes that are suitable for his condition.
