Sports Details
Para Swimming Classification
At the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) of Bangladesh, we follow the World Para Swimming Rules and Regulations. Classification ensures that success in the pool is determined by an athlete’s skill, fitness, and power, rather than the impact of their impairment.
Through classification, athletes are grouped into "Sport Classes" based on how their impairment affects their ability to perform different swimming strokes.
1. Eligible Impairment Groups
Para Swimming caters to three main groups, which include 10 specific impairment types:
- Physical Impairment (Classes 1–10): Includes impaired muscle power, limb deficiency, hypertonia, ataxia, athetosis, short stature, and impaired range of movement.
- Vision Impairment (Classes 11–13): Ranging from total blindness to partial sight.
- Intellectual Impairment (Class 14): For athletes with restrictions in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior.
2. Understanding Sport Class Prefixes
Swimming classes are identified by a prefix that indicates the stroke:
- S: Freestyle, Butterfly, and Backstroke.
- SB: Breaststroke.
- SM: Individual Medley (calculated based on the S and SB classes).
Physical Impairment (S1–S10 / SB1–SB9)
The lower the number, the more severe the activity limitation.
- S1/SB1: Swimmers with significant loss of muscle power or control in all four limbs and trunk.
- S10/SB9: Swimmers with minimal eligible physical impairments, such as the loss of a hand or a limited hip joint.
Vision Impairment (S11–S13)
- S11: Athletes with very low visual acuity or no light perception. Requirement: Must wear blackened goggles and use a tapper (support staff who signals when the swimmer is approaching the wall).
- S12: Higher visual acuity than S11; tappers are optional.
- S13: Least severe vision impairment; tappers are optional.
Intellectual Impairment (S14)
- S14: Athletes who have difficulties with pattern recognition, sequencing, and memory, which impacts their reaction time and stroke efficiency.
3. The Evaluation Process
To receive a classification, Bangladeshi athletes must undergo a three-part evaluation:
- Bench Test: A medical classifier assesses muscle strength, joint range, or limb length.
- Water Test: A technical classifier observes the athlete performing strokes and turns in the pool.
- Competition Observation: Classifiers watch the athlete during an actual race to confirm the class is accurate under "race conditions."
4. Required Documents for Bangladeshi Athletes
Before attending an international or national classification session, athletes must submit the following via NPC Bangladesh:
- Medical Diagnostics Form (MDF): Must be filled out by a specialized doctor (Ophthalmologist for VI, Neurologist/Orthopedist for PI).
- Consent Form: Signed by the athlete (and parent/guardian if under 18).
- Supporting Evidence: Hospital records, X-rays, or MRI results.
- VIRTUS Number (for S14): Proof of registration on the VIRTUS International Eligibility Master List.