S8 (classification)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/30_ACPS_Atlanta_1996_Swimming_Priya_Cooper.jpg/220px-30_ACPS_Atlanta_1996_Swimming_Priya_Cooper.jpg)
S8, SB7, SM8 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.[2][clarification needed]
Definition
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][4] The number following indicates degree of disability, with one being the most severely physically impaired to ten having the least amount of physical disability.[5]
According to the International Paralympic Committee, examples of those eligible for the S8, SB7 and SM8 classes include "Swimmers who have lost either both hands or one arm [...] also, athletes with severe restrictions in the joints of the lower limbs."[4]
Jane Buckley, writing for the Sporting Wheelies, an Australian disability association, 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."[3]
Competitions
For this classification, organisers of the Paralympic Games have the option of including the following events on the Paralympic programme: 50 m and 100 m Freestyle, 400 m Freestyle, 100 m Backstroke, 100 m Butterfly, 100 m Breaststroke, and 200 m Individual Medley events.[6]
Paralympic records
The table below records the fastest ever Paralympic record in this class for specific events.
Event | Class | Time | Name | Nation | Date | Games | Ref | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
50 m freestyle | S8 | 26.45 | WR | Xiaofu Wang | ![]() |
Sep 14, 2008 | 2008 Beijing | [7] | |
100 m freestyle | S8 | 58.84 | Xiaofu Wang | ![]() |
Sep 8, 2008 | 2008 Beijing | [8] | ||
400 m freestyle | S8 | 4:26.25 | WR | Sam Hynd | ![]() |
Sep 12, 2008 | 2008 Beijing | [9] | |
100 m backstroke | S8 | 1:06.33 | WR | Konstantin Lisenkov | ![]() |
Sep 10, 2008 | 2008 Beijing | [10] | |
100 m backstroke | S8 | 1:06.33 | WR | Konstantin Lisenkov | ![]() |
Sep 10, 2008 | 2008 Beijing | [10] | |
100 m butterfly | S8 | 1:00.95 | WR | Peter Alan Stuart Leek | ![]() |
Sep 7, 2008 | 2008 Beijing | [11] | |
100 m freestyle | S8 | 1:05.32 | WR | Maddison Elliott | ![]() |
Jul 25, 2014 | 2014 Commonwealth Games | [11] |
Records not set in finals: h – heat;
Records
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.[12] 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 Australia's Maddison Elliott.[13]
Getting classified
In Australia, to be classified in this category, athletes contact the Australian Paralympic Committee or their state swimming governing body.[14] 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."[15] American swimmers are assessed by four people: a medical classified, two general classified and a technical classifier.[15]
Competitors
Swimmers who have competed in this classification include Amanda Everlove,[16] Sean Fraser,[16] and Heather Frederiksen,[16] who all won medals in their class at the 2008 Paralympics.[16]
See also
- Para-swimming classification
- Swimming at the Summer Paralympics
- Swimming at the 2008 Summer Paralympics – Men's 100 metre butterfly S8
References
- ^ "Paralympic Classification Today". International Paralympic Committee. 22 April 2010. p. 3.
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(help) - ^ Gray, Alison (1997). Against the odds : New Zealand Paralympians. Auckland, N.Z.: Hodder Moa Beckett. p. 18. ISBN 1869585666. OCLC 154294284.
- ^ a b c Buckley, Jane (2011). "Understanding Classification: A Guide to the Classification Systems used in Paralympic Sports". Archived from the original on April 11, 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
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- ^ Shackell, James (2012-07-24). "Paralympic dreams: Croydon Hills teen a hotshot in pool". Maroondah Weekly. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
- ^ "Swimming Classification". The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad. 2008. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
- ^ "Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games - Men's 50m freestyle - S8: Results Final" (PDF). BOCOG. 2008-09-14. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
- ^ "Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games - Men's 100m freestyle - S8: Results Final" (PDF). BOCOG. 2008-09-08. Retrieved 2008-09-11.
- ^ "Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games - Men's 400m freestyle - S8: Results Final" (PDF). BOCOG. 2008-09-12. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
- ^ a b "Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games - Men's 100m backstroke - S8: Results Final" (PDF). BOCOG. 2008-09-10. Retrieved 2008-09-11.
- ^ a b "Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games - Men's 100m butterfly - S8: Results Final" (PDF). BOCOG. 2008-09-07. Retrieved 2008-09-11.
- ^ "IPC Swimming World Records Long Course". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
- ^ "Maddison Elliott breaks world record at Commonwealth Games 2014 in swimming for Australia". Retrieved 25 July 2014.
- ^ "Classification Information Sheet" (PDF). Australian Paralympic Committee. 8 March 2011. p. 3. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
- ^ a b "U.S. Paralympics National Classification Policies & Procedures SWIMMING". United States Paralympic Committee. 26 June 2011. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Results". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 18 November 2011.