S3 (classification)
S3, SB2, SM3 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.[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: "reasonable arm strokes but no use of their legs or trunk; Swimmers with severe coordination problems in all limbs and Swimmers with severe limb loss in four limbs. Swimmers in this class again have increased ability when compared to those in Class S2."[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]
Competitions
For this classification, organisers of the Paralympic Games have the option of including the following events on the Paralympic programme: in the 50m and 100m Freestyle, 200m Freestyle, 50m Backstroke, 50m Butterfly, 50m Breaststroke and 150m Individual Medley events.[5]
Records
In the S3 50 m Freestyle Long Course, the men's world record is held by the Ukraine's Dmytro Vynohradets with a time of 00:42.60 and the women's world record is held by the Ukraine's Olga Sviderska with a time of 00:55.76.[6] In the S3 100 m Freestyle Long Course, the men's world record is held by Ukraine's Dmytro Vynohradets and the women's world record is held by Mexico's Patricia Valle.[7]
Paralympic records
The table below records the fastest ever Parlaympic record in this class for specific events.
| Event | Class | Time | Name | Nation | Date | Games | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 m freestyle | S3 | 42.60 | WR | Dmytro Vynohradets |  Ukraine |
Sep 13, 2008 | 2008 Beijing | [8] |
Records not set in finals: h – heat; r – relay 1st leg; rh – relay heat 1st leg
Getting classified
In Australia, to be classified in this category, athletes contact the Australian Paralympic Committee or their state swimming governing body.[9] 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."[10] American swimmers are assessed by four people: a medical classified, two general classified and a technical classifier.[10]
Competitors
Swimmers who have competed in this classification include Jianping Du,[11] Hanhua Li[11] and Byeong Eon Min[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 Celestine Davis, Elizabeth Kolbe, Katie Labahn and Greg Martin.[12]
See also
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- Para-swimming classification
- Swimming at the Summer Paralympics
- Swimming at the 2008 Summer Paralympics – Men's 100 metre freestyle S3
References
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