What is Para-Swimming?
What is Para-Swimming?
Swimming has been an event at the Paralympic Games since the event was first held in Rome in 1960. Para-swimming is Swim England’s fully integrated swimming program for person’s with a disability from grassroots to elite.
Para-swimming combines a broad range of disabilities into three categories:
Physical Impairments- Amputees/Dysmelia; Cerebral palsy/acquired brain injury; Spinal cord injury/polio; dwarfism; Others (Major joint restrictions, coordination restriction, limb paralysis/weakness)
Visual Impairments- Blind/ visually impaired
Intellectual Impairments- Difficulties with regards to pattern recognition, sequencing and memory or having a slower reaction time, which impact on sport performance
History
Para swimming grew out of several different movements in the 1940’s and 1950’s. During this time, four international sports bodies, divided by means of medical disability eventually combined to form the modern day Paralympic movement. Swimming Canada was the first integrated National Sports Organization in 1993.
Today, a “sport-first” approach is being taken and international groups have moved towards representing specific sports, with consideration of a person’s disability as a secondary factor. The world sport governing body for persons with a disability, including swimming, is World Para Swimming, under International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and it operates with sport specific committees that oversee the development of sport for the disability groups.
Para-swimming is basically pool swimming for swimmers with a range of impairments, including physical, visual, intellectual and hearing impairments.
Find a Para Swimming Club
Club coaches will give you specific advice and coaching to improve your swimming. Find below a list of clubs within the West Midland swimming who provide para training. If you would like your club to appear in this list, please let us know.
Bilston SC
Boldmere Swimming and Water Polo Club
Cannock Phoenix SC
City of Coventry SC
Droitwich Dolphins SC
Evesham SC
Market Drayton SC
Oswestry Otters SC
Shrewsbury SC
Worcester SC
FAQs
How do I become classified?
Step 1 you will need to return the Medical Form to National Classification https://www.aquaticsgb.com/media/documents/Classification_Application_Form_with_Privacy_Notice_Marc…
Step 2 you should come to Para Training to so we can assess your swimming ability. Provided you meet the standards required to be seen by the classifiers you can be assigned S99 SB99 SM99 (awaiting classification). The required standards are listed in the form.
Step 3 you can be seen by classifiers at the next opportunity
When is the Midlands Para Championships?
Sunday 12th October 2026
Who can I contact in the region regarding Para Swimming?
If you have any further queries about para-swimming in the North East Region, please contact: zoe.foster@swimnortheast.org.
How do I find out about the Para Swimming Talent programme?
Swim England Para-Swimming Talent | Disability Swimmer Development