List of Paralympic records in swimming
Encyclopedia
The International Paralympic Committee
recognises the fastest performances in swimming events at the Paralympic Games
. Swimming has been part of at every Summer Paralympic Games
.
Races are held in four swimming strokes: freestyle
, backstroke
, breaststroke
and butterfly
over varying distances and in either individual or relay race events. Medley
events combine all four strokes, again either as an individual format (swum in order: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle) and as a team relay (swim in order: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle). Competitors are allocated a classification based on their ability in the water, with records available for each event in each classification.
Not all events are offered at each Paralympic Games
. The decision is made by the IPC
based on factors including there being a minimum of 6 athletes from a minimum of 4 National Paralympic Committees to make a race viable. In addition, an event must have been also held at the previous Games, or at the IPC Swimming World Championships
held between the Games. In total there is an aim to provide a minimum of 7 individual events and 2 relays events for all classes, with an overall total of 140 events being contested at each Games. The currently used classification system has been in use since the 2000 Sydney Games
.
Events in classification 14 have been suspended for the Athens and Beijing Games, and are currently under review by the IPC. This was the result of a cheating scandal
at the 2000 Paralympic Games involving the Spanish ID Basketball team.
At the 2008 Beijing Games, Paralympic records were broken in 122 events, of which the records in 108 events were also world records.
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International Paralympic Committee
The International Paralympic Committee is an international non-profit organisation and the global governing body for the Paralympic Movement. The IPC organizes the Paralympic Games and functions as the international federation for nine sports...
recognises the fastest performances in swimming events at the Paralympic Games
Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their...
. Swimming has been part of at every Summer Paralympic Games
Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their...
.
Races are held in four swimming strokes: freestyle
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
, backstroke
Backstroke
The backstroke, also sometimes called the back crawl, is one of the four swimming styles regulated by FINA, and the only regulated style swum on the back. This has the advantage of easy breathing, but the disadvantage of swimmers not being able to see where they are going. It is also the only...
, breaststroke
Breaststroke
The breaststroke is a swimming style in which the swimmer is on his or her chest and the torso does not rotate. It is the most popular recreational style due to its stability and the ability to keep the head out of the water a large portion of the time. In most swimming classes, beginners learn...
and butterfly
Butterfly stroke
The butterfly is a swimming stroke swum on the breast, with both arms moving simultaneously. The butterfly kick was developed separately, and is also known as the "dolphin kick"...
over varying distances and in either individual or relay race events. Medley
Medley swimming
Medley is a combination of four different swimming styles into one race. This race is either swum by one swimmer as individual medley or by four swimmers as a medley relay...
events combine all four strokes, again either as an individual format (swum in order: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle) and as a team relay (swim in order: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle). Competitors are allocated a classification based on their ability in the water, with records available for each event in each classification.
- 1-10: Physical disability: Classes S1, SB1, SM1 for athletes who are least physically able; S10, SB9, SM10 for those with greatest ability in the water
- 11-13: Visual impairment: Class S11 for totally blind athletes, to class S13 for athletes who have some vision, but are considered legally blind
- 14: Intellectual disability
Not all events are offered at each Paralympic Games
Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their...
. The decision is made by the IPC
International Paralympic Committee
The International Paralympic Committee is an international non-profit organisation and the global governing body for the Paralympic Movement. The IPC organizes the Paralympic Games and functions as the international federation for nine sports...
based on factors including there being a minimum of 6 athletes from a minimum of 4 National Paralympic Committees to make a race viable. In addition, an event must have been also held at the previous Games, or at the IPC Swimming World Championships
IPC Swimming World Championships
The IPC Swimming World Championships are the world championships for swimming where athletes with a disability compete. They are organised by the International Paralympic Committee on a four year rotation with the Paralympic Games and regional championships .The first short course world...
held between the Games. In total there is an aim to provide a minimum of 7 individual events and 2 relays events for all classes, with an overall total of 140 events being contested at each Games. The currently used classification system has been in use since the 2000 Sydney Games
Swimming at the 2000 Summer Paralympics
Swimming at the 2000 Summer Paralympics comprised a total of 169 events, 91 for men and 78 for women. Swimmers were classified according to the extent and type of their disability.- Men's events :- Women's events :...
.
Events in classification 14 have been suspended for the Athens and Beijing Games, and are currently under review by the IPC. This was the result of a cheating scandal
Cheating at the Paralympic Games
Cheating at the Paralympic Games has caused scandals that have significantly changed the way in which the International Paralympic Committee manages the events. Testing for performance-enhancing drugs has become increasingly strict and more widespread throughout the Games, with powerlifting seeing...
at the 2000 Paralympic Games involving the Spanish ID Basketball team.
At the 2008 Beijing Games, Paralympic records were broken in 122 events, of which the records in 108 events were also world records.
Men's records
| Event | Class | Time | Name | Nation | Date | Games | Ref |
|---|