swimming classification swimming classification function based classification system designed allow fair competition disability swimming classes freestyle butterfly events individual medley events swimmers physical disabilities divided classes based degree functional disability visual placed additional classes final class reserved swimmers intellectual disabilities swimming organised sports people disabilities contested summer paralympics rules sport approval classifications responsibility took governance classification people visual physical intellectual disabilities eligible compete sport classification system originally based medical criteria moved largely based functional disability swimming competitive sport currently moving evidence based classification system definition swimming classification based system functional criteria assessed athletes different physical disabilities compete class long functional similar swimming arms elbow significant impact functional ability result swimming classifications differ athletics classifications swimmers divided classes based degree functional disability severely affected class swimmers normally use outside pool classes letter freestyle butterfly events individual medley events different strokes require use different muscle groups case example hand hip play crucial role swimmer compete class stroke different class means swimmers cerebral spinal cord injuries limb deficiencies compete individual medley class assigned mean average classes assigned individual stroke rounded nearest number rounding additional classes visually impaired swimmers lower number indicates greater degree class swimmers blind nearly blind compete uses pole warn swimmer approaching end pool visual classifications based medical classification functional mobility final class disabled swimmers class dropped summer paralympics summer paralympics restored summer paralympics general rules paralympic swimming based intended able bodied competitors rules strokes turns length time swimmers remain water similar olympic games events place standard pool swimmers dive start water swimmers use technology competing governance swimming sports contested paralympics rome rules sport approval swimmers classifications set formally governing body disability swimming different sporting bodies disabled assisted governing swimming classification code govern classification process classification swimmers performed recognised history earliest classification system swimming created 1940s time swimmers classified based medical conditions late 1960s early 1970s classification system set series effort clearly describe disabilities promote number classifications organizing competitive events difficult people classification international events people disabilities said winners competitors summer paralympics seoul number eligible classes great gold medals awarded swimming event disabled german state developed swimming classification system stayed use system seven classifications class athletes compete class competitors single arm elbow double arm type single arm fixed shoulder joint intellectual disability class called class class people severe disabilities classification events included swimming races metres system later expanded include classes discontinued system gain international support inside germany discarded need athletes classified international competitions classification swimmers cerebral governed cerebral classifications class competitors compete metre freestyle event devices devices class competitors compete events class competitors year cent competitors cerebral competed classification international competitions classification swimming relied points system assess severity physical disability considering athlete functionality specifically applied ability swim particular stroke caused problems certain types disability greater negative impact swimming point system directly address functional ability address point consideration eliminated disability types impact performance decided reduce number classifications try fix classification competitors certainty classification compete attending event major change previously athletes classified immediately event result number swimming classifications dropped seoul barcelona going push functional classification system came head november meeting barcelona discussion started events classifications eligible games study organising committee lead meeting looked results recent international competitions proposed series classes based competitive results use barcelona insisted system implemented ensure sport paralympic games competitive instead recreational suggestions implemented sports swimming athletics games ones swimmers different types disabilities competed swimmers guaranteed right appeal classification functional classification coincided rise sports science detailed international swimming sport science project conducted summer olympics seoul followed similar project barcelona studies provided increasingly detailed understanding factors involved high performance swimming henceforth sports science driver performance classification ahead summer paralympics sydney changes classification bringing total number functional classifications competed swimmers classified atlanta opted compete sydney swimmers moved class compete finals classifications premier elite international sporting competition fell short sydney gold medals awarded sports compared sports summer olympics classification process classification process evaluate factors including swimmer physical limitations require start water swimmer enters water competition person panel includes person medical background handles classification international competitions required familiar type disability classifying physical visual intellectual classification national sports bodies mirrors international classification process conducted nationally recognised australian competitors example classification managed national sport federation support types classification available australian competitors provisional national international club level competitions second state national competitions international competitions internationally classification handled english athletes allowed interpreter present process swimmers required disclose regularly use provide detailed records medical history relevant allowed familiar swimming limitations present process process includes physical assessment observation assessment functional assessment include performance pool swimmers visual require functional components assessment swimmer intentionally disability barred classification process minimum years unable compete swimmers agree classifications appeal body recognised formal processes exist non competition competition periods classification assessment took roughly minutes summer paralympics classification blind swimmers lasted minutes classification paralympics disability types eligible participate oversaw classification based functional disability general functional classification took place functional swimming classification taking place dates process contentious issue paralympics spot resulted changes competition schedule spot classification classification viewed negative aspect summer paralympics paralympic movement overall summer paralympics assessments conducted resulting class changes protest status protests national paralympic committee classification upheld denied classification appeals lodged swimming involving athletes resulting class changes summer paralympics rio zero classification games policy policy place goal avoiding minute changes classes negatively impact athlete training preparations competitors needed internationally classified classification status confirmed prior games exceptions policy dealt case case basis case need classification games despite best efforts swimming classification scheduled place olympic stadium visually impaired swimmers getting classified september swimmers classified september physical intellectual disabilities going classification rio competition observation event appearance competition games future going forward disability sport major classification body working improving classification evidence based system opposed performance based system punish elite athletes performance makes appear higher class compared competitors train
Para-swimming classification