S8, SB7, SM8 are disability swimming classifications used for categorising swimmers based on their level of disability.
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The classification was created by the International Paralympic Committee and has roots in a 2003 attempt to address "the overall objective to support and co-ordinate the ongoing development of accurate, reliable, consistent and credible sport focused classification systems and their implementation."[1]
This classification is for swimming.[2] In the classification title, S represents Freestyle, Backstroke and Butterfly strokes. SB means breaststroke. SM means individual medley.[2] Jane Buckley, writing for the Sporting Wheelies, describes the swimmers in this classification as having: "full use of their arms and trunk with some leg function; Swimmers with coordination problems mainly in the lower limbs; Both legs amputated just above or just below the knee; Single above elbow amputation."[2]
For this classification, organisers of the Paralympic Games have the option of including the following events on the Paralympic programme: 50m and 100m Freestyle, 400m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke, 100m Butterfly, 100m Breaststroke, and 200m Individual Medley events.[3]
The table below records the fastest ever Parlaympic record in this class for specific events.
| Event | Class | Time | Name | Nation | Date | Games | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 m freestyle | S8 | 26.45 | WR |
Xiaofu Wang | China | September 14, 2008 | 2008 Beijing | [4] |
| 100 m freestyle | S8 | 58.84 | Xiaofu Wang | China | September 8, 2008 | 2008 Beijing | [5] | |
| 400 m freestyle | S8 | 4:26.25 | WR |
Samuel Hynd | Great Britain | September 12, 2008 | 2008 Beijing | [6] |
| 100 m backstroke | S8 | 1:06.33 | WR |
Konstantin Lisenkov | Russia | September 10, 2008 | 2008 Beijing | [7] |
| 100 m backstroke | S8 | 1:06.33 | WR |
Konstantin Lisenkov | Russia | September 10, 2008 | 2008 Beijing | [7] |
| 100 m butterfly | S8 | 1:00.95 | WR |
Peter Alan Stuart Leek | Australia | September 7, 2008 | 2008 Beijing | [8] |
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by IPC; WR – World record;
Records not set in finals: (h) – heat; (r) – relay 1st leg; (rh) – relay heat 1st leg
In the S8 50 m Freestyle Long Course, the men's world record is held by China's Xiaofu Wang with a time of 00:26.45 and the women's world record is held by China's Shengnan Jiang with a time of 00:30.85.[9] In the S8 100 m Freestyle Long Course, the men's world record is held by Australia's Peter Leek and the women's world record is held by the American Jessica Long.[10]
In Australia, to be classified in this category, athletes contact the Australian Paralympic Committee or their state swimming governing body.[11] In the United States, classification is handled by the United States Paralympic Committee on a national level. The classification test has three components: "a bench test, a water test, observation during competition."[12] American swimmers are assesed by four people: a medical classified, two general classified and a technical classifier.[12]
Swimmers who have competed in this classification include Amanda Everlove[13] Sean Fraser[13] and Heather Frederiksen[13] who all won medals in their class at the 2008 Paralympics.[13]
American swimmers who have been classified by the United States Paralympic Committee as being in this class include Charles Albert, Jon Arlin, Kevin Pannell and Megan Patrick.[14]