Swimming
Swimming for people with a disability offers the same opportunities as for able-bodied swimmers: moving without support in the water, the potential to increase muscle strength and range of joint movement, and a chance to improve your co-ordination, balance and keep fit.
Swimming offers something for everyone - rehabilitation, recreation or competition. Participants compete in the standard four styles of swimming: freestyle, backstroke, breastroke and butterfly. They are swum over a range of distances from 25m to 1500m (in competition this depends on age groups and classifications).
Queensland has a strong lead with swimming in Australia, with many international class athletes and coaches based in the state.
Competitions / Programs
Opportunities are available at local/regional swim clubs throughout Queensland for people with a disability, ranging from novice through to elite swimmers. Contacts for your local swim club can be obtained from our Association or from Swimming Queensland.
State Championships
Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association Queensland Swimming State Championships Queensland Swimming Association State Open and Age Championships including multi-disability events Queensland School Sport State Primary Schools Swimming Championships State Secondary Schools Swimming Championships
National Level Competition
Swimming Australia Telstra Open and Age Championships. National Junior Disabled Games held every two years Pacific School Games held every four years
International Level Competition
Paralympics are held every four years World Championships every alternate two years Regional competitions such as FESPIC also include swimming events National Championships in other countries often welcome international competitors
Classes of Athletes
Swimmers with physical and locomotor disabilities compete within an international functional classification system beteen classes S1-S9 (i.e. swimmers with a similar disability compete in the same class eg. S6 swimmers).
Swimmers with a vision impairment are classified into B1, B2, or B3 classes and compete within their class.
Seasons
Summer season (October – March) Nationals – end of season (March) Winter season (March – October) – not all pools are open in all regions of Queensland
Coaching
Members are encouraged to take advantage of coaching services offered at their local club. Coaching contacts can be obtained from Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association and Swimming Queensland.
Training Venues / Times
Varies from club to club and pool to pool.
Equipment Required
Standard swimming equipment is used (i.e. Goggles, swimming costume, swim cap), with some modified equipment available for swimmers with a disability (i.e. fins for leg amputees, pool buoy attachments modified for swimmers with a spinal injury, tapper for swimmers with a vision impairment ).
Cost
Membership to Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association, which is recognised by Swimming Queensland up to a Regional level (i.e. Members of the Association can compete up to a regional level without joining a swimming club) Swimmers are encouraged to join their local swimming club/pool – price varies. This fee should include membership to Swimming Queensland, which includes insurance.
Sam Riley Swim Schools SWIMMING WITHOUT LIMITS
Swim Fish Aquatics Disability Program
Links
New Swimming Australia Websites
Member Video Story - Rowan Crother's swimming aspirations
Last updated 25.02.10