If the train’s about to leave…
5 key facts about swimming and the Paralympic Games:
• There are 8 swimming disciplines at the Paralympic Games (including 2 relays)
• Swimming is one of the most widely practised sports on the Paralympic Games stage
• Athletes are categorised from 1 to 13 according to their impairments
• Category 1 represents the greatest impairment
• In Paralympic swimming, certain adaptations are made for the athletes.
If you’re at the platform early,
Getting into the swim of history
Para swimming entered the Paralympic Games Rome 1960, just 64 years ago.
But it wasn’t just a first for swimming – the very first Paralympic Games actually took place in Rome in 1960. At the time, it was a revolution and more than 400 athletes took part in the following disciplines: para athletics, wheelchair basketball, para table tennis, para archery, pool, dartchery (a combination of darts and archery), wheelchair fencing and, of course, para swimming.
What are the categories for the Paralympic Games Paris 2024?
Every impairment is different, and this is what makes defining categories in competitions so complex. A classification system exists based on specific impairments. Some athletes may have a condition such as arthrogryposis, which requires them to use a wheelchair on a daily basis, for example. Or, in other cases, they might be categorised on the basis of the loss or amputation of limbs.
This works in the same way as weight categories. Athletes with an impairment are categorised from 1 to 13. 1 to 10 refer to physical impairments of varying levels, and 11 to 13 to visual impairments. The impairments are categorised in descending order, with number 1 corresponding to the greater degree of impairment. The number 1 corresponds to the greater degree of impairment.
💡 Did you know?
Classification is based on a thorough medical examination:
• S 1 to 4: swimmers unable to use 3 or 4 limbs or their trunk
• S 5 to 6: swimmers unable to use 2 limbs and their trunk or complete arms and hands
• S 7 to 8: swimmers unable to use 2 lower limbs or one upper limb
• S 9 to 10: swimmers who can use only one lower limb (amputation or partial or total loss of a limb) or one upper limb
• S 11: no visual ability
• S 12 to 13: visually impaired
• S 14: intellectual impairment
What happens in a swimming event at the Paralympic Games Paris 2024?
Swimming events at the Paralympic Games Paris 2024 run differently, particularly at the start, when swimmers have the choice of diving from the diving block, diving alongside it or starting directly in the water. The event and the rules are adapted according to impairments. Here are a few examples of possible adaptations to the rules:
• In the case of a visual impairment, assistants are on hand to warn swimmers that they are approaching the edge of the pool.
• In the case of a physical impairment, assistants may help athletes to enter or leave the water.
There are 6 events at the Paralympic Games Paris 2024 in which swimmers can compete:
• 50m, 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle
• 50m and 100m backstroke
• 50m and 100m breaststroke
• 50m and 100m butterfly
• 150m individual medley
• 200m individual medley
• 4× 50m and 4× 100m freestyle relay
• 4× 50m and 4× 100m medley relay
💡 This summer at the Paralympic Games Paris 2024, the Swiss delegation will be keeping an eye on young Nora Meister and Léo McCrea, who are two great medal hopes. Nora Meister won a bronze medal at the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.
The swimming events at the Paralympic Games Paris 2024 will take place at the Paris La Défense Arena in Nanterre from 29 August to 7 September 2024.
TGV Lyria is the official Partner of the Swiss Olympic Team and Swiss Paralympic Team and will be transporting the Swiss delegations to the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Paris 2024.
