S10 (classification)
S10, SB9, SM10 are disability swimming classifications used for categorising swimmers based on their level of disability.
Contents
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. At this time, competitors who were S10 classified tended to be below the elbow or below the knee amputees.[2] The Yass Tribune defined this classification in 2007 as "Athletes with a significant range of muscular tone and movement".[3]
Sport
This classification is for swimming.[4] In the classification title, S represents Freestyle, Backstroke and Butterfly strokes. SB means breaststroke. SM means individual medley.[4] Jane Buckley, writing for the Sporting Wheelies, describes the swimmers in this classification as having: "very minimal weakness affecting the legs; Swimmers with restriction of hip joint movement; Swimmers with both feet deformed; Swimmers with one leg amputated below the knee; Swimmers missing one hand. This is the class with the most physical ability."[4] Swimming classifications are on a gradient, with one being the most severely physically impaired to ten having the least amount of physical disability.[5]
Getting classified
In Australia, to be classified in this category, athletes contact the Australian Paralympic Committee or their state swimming governing body.[6] 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."[7] American swimmers are assessed by four people: a medical classified, two general classified and a technical classifier.[7]
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, 100m Butterfly, 100m Breaststroke and 200m Individual Medley events.[8]
Records
In the S10 50 m Freestyle Long Course, the men's world record is held by Brazil's Andre Brasil and the women's world record is held by the Canadian Summer Ashley Mortimer.[9] In the S10 100 m Freestyle Long Course, the men's world record is held by Brazil's Andre Brasil and the women's world record is held by Kiwi Sophie Pascoe.[10]
Competitors
Swimmers who have competed in this classification include Robert Welbourn, Michael Anderson,[11] Andre Brasil[11] and Anna Eames[11] who all won medals in their class at the 2008 Paralympics.[11]
American swimmers who have been classified by the United States Paralympic Committee as being in this class include Don Alexander, Abbie Argo, Noah Patton and David Prince.[12]
See also
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References
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