Sport Classes
The sport class names in swimming consist of a prefix “S”, ”SB” or “SM” and a number. The prefixes stand for the event and the number indicates the sport class the athlete competes in the respective event.
The prefixes stand for:
• S: Freestyle, butterfly and backstroke events
• SB: Breaststroke
• SM: Individual medley
The prefixes stand for:
• S: Freestyle, butterfly and backstroke events
• SB: Breaststroke
• SM: Individual medley
Sport classes 1-10: Physical impairment
There are 10 different S and SM sport classes and nine SB sport classes for athletes with a physical impairment, numbered 1-10. A lower number indicates a more severe activity limitation than a higher number.
You will notice that athletes with different impairments compete against each other. The impact of their impairment on swim performance, however, is similar.
The following gives a few examples of impairments described in each sport class profile. The final decision of a sport class will depend on the classification outcome as described in the IPCSwimming Classification Rules and Regulations.
S1 SB1 SM1
Swimmers in this sport class have a significant loss of muscle power or control in their legs, arms and hands. Some athletes also have limited trunk control, as it may occur with tetraplegia. These impairments may be caused by spinal-cord injuries or polio. Swimmers in this class usually use a wheelchair in daily life.
S2 SB1 SM2
Swimmers in this sport class are able to use their arms with no use of their hands, legs or trunk or have severe co-ordination problems in four limbs. As in sport class S1 SB1 SM1, athletes mostly only compete in backstroke events.
S3 SB2 SM3
This sport class includes athletes with amputations of all four limbs. Swimmers with reasonable arm strokes but no use of their legs or trunk and swimmers with severe co-ordination problems in all limbs are also included in this sport class.
S4 SB3 SM4
Swimmers who can use their arms and have minimal weakness in their hands, but cannot use their trunk or legs. Athletes with amputations of three limbs also swim in this sport class.
S5 SB4 SM5
Swimmers with short stature and an additional impairment, with loss of control over one side of their body (hemiplegia) or with paraplegia compete in this sport class.
S6 SB5 SM6
This sport class includes swimmers with short stature, amputations of both arms or moderate co-ordination problems on one side of their body.
S7 SB6 SM7
Athletes in the class have one leg and one arm amputation on opposite sides, double leg amputations or a paralysis of one arm and one leg on the same side. Moreover, swimmers with full control over arms and trunk and some leg function can compete in this class.
S8 SB7 SM8
Swimmers who have lost either both hands or one arm are eligible to compete in this sport class. Also, athletes with severe restrictions in the joints of the lower limbs could compete in this sport class.
S9 SB8 SM9
Athletes in this sport class swim with joint restrictions in one leg, double below-the-knee amputations or an amputation of one leg.
S10 SB9 SM10
This class describes the minimal impairments of eligible swimmers with physical impairment. Eligible impairments would be the loss of a hand or both feet and a significantly limited function of one hip joint.
Visual Impairment:
S11 SB11 SM11
Swimmers have a complete or nearly complete loss of sight. By way of explanation, their level of visual acuity is such that the athlete cannot recognise the letter “E” (15x15cm in size) from a distance of 25cm. Athletes in sport class S11/SB11/SM11 compete with blackened goggles.
S12 SB12 SM12
These swimmers have a higher visual acuity than athletes competing in the S11/SB11/SM11 sport class, but they are unable to recognise the letter “E” from a distance of 4m. Moreover, athletes with a visual field of less than 10 degrees diameter are eligible for this sport class.
S13 SB13 SM13
This is for swimmers with the least severe visual impairment eligible for swimming. Eligible athletes either have a restricted visual field of less than 40 degrees diameter or a low visual acuity.
Intellectual impairment
S14 SB14 SM14
Swimmers with intellectual impairment who also meet the sport-specific criteria compete in sport class S14/SB14/SM1
