S5 (classification)

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S5, SB4, SM5 are disability swimming classifications used for categorising swimmers based on their level of disability.

History

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] In 1997, Against the odds : New Zealand Paralympians said this classification was graded along a gradient, with S1 being the most disabled and S10 being the least disabled. S5 competitors that year tended to be complete paraplegics.[2]

Sport

This classification is for swimming.[3] In the classification title, S represents Freestyle, Backstroke and Butterfly strokes. SB means breaststroke. SM means individual medley.[3] Jane Buckley, writing for the Sporting Wheelies, describes the swimmers in this classification as having: "full use of their arms and hands but no trunk or leg muscles; Swimmers with coordination problems."[3] Swimming classifications are on a gradient, with one being the most severely physically impaired to ten having the least amount of physical disability.[4]

Getting classified

In Australia, to be classified in this category, athletes contact the Australian Paralympic Committee or their state swimming governing body.[5] 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."[6] American swimmers are assesed by four people: a medical classified, two general classified and a technical classifier.[6]

Competitions

For this classification, organisers of the Paralympic Games have the option of including the following events on the Paralympic programme: 50m and 100m Freestyle, 200m Freestyle, 50m Backstroke, 50m Butterfly, 100m Breaststroke and 200m Individual Medley events.[7]

Records

In both the S5 50 m and 100 m Freestyle Long Courses, the men's world record is held by Brazil's Daniel Dias and the women's world record is held by Spain's Teresa Perales.[8] [9]

Competitors

Swimmers who have competed in this classification include Olena Akopyan,[10] Dmytro Kryzhanovskyy[10] and Inbal Pezaro[10] who all won medals in their class at the 2008 Paralympics.[10]

American swimmers who have been classified by the United States Paralympic Committee as being in this class include Matthew Papenheim, Ty Payne and Roy Perkins.[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Paralympic Classification Today". International Paralympic Committee. 22 April 2010. p. 3. 
  2. ↑ Gray, Alison (1997). Against the odds : New Zealand Paralympians. Auckland, N.Z.: Hodder Moa Beckett. p. 18. ISBN 1869585666. OCLC 154294284. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Buckley, Jane (2011). "Understanding Classification: A Guide to the Classification Systems used in Paralympic Sports". Retrieved 12 November 2011. 
  4. ↑ Shackell, James (2012-07-24). "Paralympic dreams: Croydon Hills teen a hotshot in pool". Maroondah Weekly. Retrieved 2012-08-01. 
  5. ↑ "Classification Information Sheet". Australian Paralympic Committee. 8 March 2011. p. 3. Retrieved 17 November 2011. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "U.S. Paralympics National Classification Policies & Procedures SWIMMING". United States Paralympic Committee. 26 June 2011. Retrieved 18 November 2011. 
  7. ↑ "Swimming Classification". The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad. 2008. Retrieved 18 November 2011. 
  8. ↑ "IPC Swimming World Records Long Course". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 18 November 2011. 
  9. ↑ "IPC Swimming World Records Long Course". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 18 November 2011. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 "Results". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 18 November 2011. 
  11. ↑ "USA NATIONAL CLASSIFICATION DATABASE". United States Paralympic Committee. 7 October 2011. Retrieved 18 November 2011. 
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