S7 (classification)

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Amanda Fraser is an S7 classified swimmer

S7, SB6, SM7 are disability swimming classifications used for categorising swimmers based on their level of disability.

History

David Roberts is an S7 classified swimmer

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.[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 trunk with some leg function; Coordination or weakness problems on the same side of the body; Limb loss of 2 limbs."[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, 400m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke, 50m Butterfly, 100m Breaststroke and 200m Individual Medley events.[7]

Records

As of February 2013, Great Britain's David Roberts holds the S7 men's world record for the 50 m freestyle long course event, with a time of 00:27.67. The S7 women's world record is held by the American Mallory Weggemann with a time of 00:31.64.[8] In the 400 m freestyle long course event, the S7 men's world record is held by Great Britain's Josef Craig with a time of 4:42.81. The S7 women's world record is held by the Australian Jacqueline Freney in a time of 4:59.02.[9]

Competitors

Swimmers who have competed in this classification include Veronica Almeida,[10] Chantal Boonacker[10] and Kirsten Bruhn[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 Alexis Allen, Carly Allen, Segun Arigbede and Benjamin Park.[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 - 50FR". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 5 February 2013. 
  9. ↑ "IPC Swimming World Records LC - 400FR". Retrieved 5 February 2013. 
  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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