Team SA have six swimmers at the upcoming World Para Swimming Championships in Manchester, England. For reference when it comes to the classification of the swimmers, here’s an easy guide.
Cornelle Leach
S12 SB2
Breaststroke
Christian Sadie
S7, SB7, SM7
Butterfly, freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, Individual Medley
Nathan Hendricks
S13
Freestyle, backstroke
Kat Swanepoel
S7, SB7, SM7
Butterfly, individual medley
Danika Vyncke
S13 VI
Breaststroke, freestyle
Alani Ferreira
S12, SB12, SM12
Breaststroke, freestyle
S1-S10 / SB1 – SB9 / SM1- SM10 – physical impairment
There are ten different sport classes for athletes with physical impairment, numbered 1-10.
Athletes with different impairments compete against each other.
To evaluate the impact of impairments on swimming, classifiers assess all functional body structures using a point system and ask the athlete to complete a water assessment. The total number of points then determines the athlete’s S and SB sport classes. Due to the different demands of S and SB events, swimmers are often allocated different S and SB sport classes.
S/SB11-13 – vision impairment
Athletes with a vision impairment compete in three sport classes from S/SB11 to S/SB13.
S/SB11: These athletes have a very low visual acuity and/ or no light perception.
S/SB12: Athletes have a higher visual acuity than athletes competing in the S/SB11 sport class and/ or a visual field of less than 5 degrees radius.
S/SB13: Athletes have the least severe vision impairment eligible for Paralympic sport. They have the highest visual acuity and/or a visual field of less than 20 degrees radius.
Sport Classes S/SB14 – intellectual impairment
S14 swimmers have an intellectual impairment, which typically leads to the athletes having difficulties with regards to pattern recognition, sequencing, and memory, or having a slower reaction time, which impact on sport performance in general.
Photo: Christian Sadie