Freestyle
• 50m
• 100m
• 200m
• 400m
Backstroke
• 50m
• 100m
Breaststroke
• 50m
• 100m
Butterfly
• 50m
• 100m
Individual Medley
• 150m
• 200m
Relay
• 4 x 50m Freestyle
• 4 x 100m Freestyle
• 4 x100m Medley
Freestyle
• 50m
• 100m
• 200m
• 400m
Backstroke
• 50m
• 100m
Breaststroke
• 50m
• 100m
Butterfly
• 50m
• 100m
Individual Medley
• 150m
• 200m
Relay
• 4 x 50m Freestyle
• 4 x 100m Freestyle
• 4 x100m Medley
Para Swimming is open to athletes with an intellectual, physical or vision impairment. Athletes are required to submit medical reports and meet the minimum impairment criteria in order to compete. Eligibility is determined by trained Classifiers.
For more information on Eligible Impairments and Classification please see the Para swimming Information Sheet (PDF – 147KB) – updated August 2024.
Athletes are required to wear a bathing suit that does not aid their speed, buoyancy or endurance.
Swimming caps and goggles are permitted.
Since the first Paralympic Games in Rome, Italy in 1960, Para swimming has been a feature of the Paralympic program.
Para Swimming is open to athletes with a physical, intellectual or vision impairment. The International Swimming Federation’s rules are followed with a few modifications, such as optional platform or in-water starts for some races and the use of signals or ‘tappers’ for swimmers with a vision impairment. No prostheses or assistive devices are permitted in the water.
For more information on Para swimming Eligibility and How to Get Involved please see the Para swimming Information Sheet (PDF – 154KB) – updated May 2024.
| Games | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PARIS 2024 | 6 | 8 | 13 | 27 |
| TOKYO 2020 | 8 | 10 | 15 | 33 |
| RIO DE JANEIRO 2016 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 29 |
| LONDON 2012 | 18 | 7 | 12 | 37 |
| BEIJING 2008 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 29 |
| ATHENS 2004 | 6 | 14 | 15 | 35 |
| SYDNEY 2000 | 14 | 15 | 21 | 50 |
| ATLANTA 1996 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 44 |
| BARCELONA - MADRID 1992 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 35 |
| SEOUL 1988 | 5 | 12 | 14 | 31 |
| NEW YORK & STOKE MANDEVILLE 1984 | 20 | 30 | 24 | 74 |
| ARNHEM 1980 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 11 |
| TORONTO 1976 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 10 |
| HEIDELBERG 1972 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 9 |
| TEL AVIV 1968 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 11 |
| TOKYO 1964 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 13 |
| ROME 1960 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
We encourage those wishing to explore Para-swimming to contact their state federation in the first instance. The national federation link below provides information on the national high performance program leading to competing internationally and at the Paralympic Games.
| National Federation | ||
| Organisation | Website | |
| Swimming Australia | swimming.org.au | |
| State Federations | ||
| State | Organisation | Website |
| NSW | Swimming NSW | nsw.swimming.org.au |
| NT | Swimming NT | nt.swimming.org.au |
| QLD | Swimming QLD | qld.swimming.org.au |
| SA | Swimming SA | sa.swimming.org.au |
| TAS | Swimming TAS | tas.swimming.org.au |
| VIC | Swimming VIC | vic.swimming.org.au |
| WA | Swimming WA | wa.swimming.org.au |
"*" indicates required fields
