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SWIMMING
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Click here for
information on the PNZ Swimming Programme
Overview
Since the first Paralympic Games in Rome in 1960, swimming has been one of the
main sports of the Paralympics. As in the Olympic Games, competitors measure
their skills in freestyle, backstroke, butterfly, breaststroke and medley
events. In 2009, athletes from more than 80 countries practice the sport, with
male and female competitors having either a physical disability or
blindness/visual impairment. Athletes are classified based on their functional
ability to perform each stroke.
Swimming is governed by the IPC and co-ordinated by the IPC Swimming Technical
Committee, which incorporates the rules of the International Swimming Federation
(FINA). The FINA rules are followed with a few modifications, such as optional
platform or in-water starts for some races and the use of signals or ‘tappers’
for swimmers with blindness/visual impairment; however, no prostheses or
assistive devices are permitted.
Events
-
Freestyle - 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m
- Backstroke -
50m, 100m
- Breaststroke -
50m, 100m
- Butterfly - 50m,
100m
- Medley - 150m,
200m
- Relay - 4x50m,
4x100m (freestyle & medley)
Classification
There are events for competitors with a physical disability or visual
impairment, making Paralympic Swimming one of the biggest participation sports
at the Games. Swimmers are classified according to their functional ability to
perform each stroke.
Classes
1 - 10 are allocated to swimmers with a physical disability
11 - 13 are allocated to swimmers with a visual impairment
Breaststroke uses greater leg propulsion than any other stroke, therefore
athletes with a physical impairment often have a different class for this event
compared to Freestyle, Backstroke and Butterfly. This is also taken into account
when athletes compete in the Individual Medley.
This is shown by the prefix:
The prefix S denotes the class for freestyle, backstroke and butterfly (ie: S10)
The prefix SB denotes the class for breaststroke (ie: SB9)
The prefix M denotes the class
for medley (ie: SM10)
Selection
Standards
2013 PNZ
Swimming Points Table
2013 IPC Swimming Minimum Qualifying Standards (MQS)
Links
»
Swimming New
Zealand
»
IPC Swimming
»
International
Paralympic Committee
 PNZ SWIMMING
PROGRAMME
Sport Contacts
PNZ Swimming Programme Director
Malcolm Humm
mhumm@paralympics.org.nz
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