Swimmers / Para Swimmers

Para Swimmers

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WHAT IS PARA- SWIMMING?

Para-swimming is Swimming Canada’s fully integrated swimming program for people with a disability from grassroots to elite.  Para-swimming combines a broad range of disabilities into three categories:

Physical Impairments

  • Amputees/Dysmelia;

  • Cerebral palsy/acquired brain injury;

  • Spinal cord injury/polio; dwarfism

  • Others (Major joint restrictions, coordination restriction, limb paralysis/weakness)

Visual Impairments

  • Blind; visually impaired

Intellectual Impairments

  • Typically leads to the athletes having difficulties with regards to pattern recognition, sequencing, and memory, or having a slower reaction time, which impact on sport performance in general.

HISTORY

Para-swimming grew out of several different movements in the 1940’s and 1950’s. During this time, four international sports bodies, divided by means of medical disability eventually combined to form the modern-day Paralympic movement. Swimming Canada became the first integrated National Sports Organization in 1993.

Today, a “sport-first” approach is being taken and international groups have moved towards representing specific sports, with consideration of a person\’s disability as a secondary factor. The world sport governing body for persons with a disability, including swimming, is the International Paralympic Committee and it operates with sport specific committees that oversee the development of sport for the disability groups.

 

If you are interested in becoming classified as a Para swimmer, please contact Swim Nova Scotia for additional information and next steps

COACHING

Trained coaches have acquired the skills they need to coach Para swimmers. As with any athlete, coaches focus on individuals’ strengths and abilities rather than their disability.

Para swimmers will improve as an able-bodied swimmer given that they are properly coached and trained.

Coaches have the opportunity to take the Swimming Canada NCCP Para Swimming Module as part of their professional development through Swimming Canada’s Learning Management System (LMS)

SWIM MEETS 

Swim meets are a great way for swimmers to see themselves improving. Para swimmers can compete in any sanctioned meet.

Often Para swimmers may swim shorter distances depending on their class, as well as most of the events an able-bodied swimmer is offered.

Standard events offered on the Paralympic menu are as followed 50, 100 Free for all classes; 200 free S1-S5, 400 Free S6-14; 50 back S1-S5, 100 back S6-14; 50 Breast S1-S5, 100 Breast S6-S14; 50 Fly S1-S7, 100 Fly S8-S14; 150 IM S1-S5; 200 IM S6-S14.

Swimmers can compete a number of ways:

  • Class racing – where a swimmer only competes against swimmers of the same class – usually at World Championships, the Paralympics and some National and International competitions.

  • Multi-disability racing – where the swimmers compete against other Para swimmers and the winner is determined by a point scoring system based on the swimmer’s time and class. This type is the best format for most invitational and provincial meets. It is also seen at some major international competitions.