What changes the result
The rules behind the moments commentators get excited about. They build on the beginner rules.
I · Intermediate · 6 rules · Step 2 of 4Classes and events
Starts and strokes
- Can para swimmers start in the water?Freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly and medley start with a dive, with at least one foot at the front of the platform; backstroke starts in the water.
- What are the backstroke rules in para swimming?In freestyle any style may be swum, touching the wall each length; standing on the bottom is allowed but walking is not.
- What are the touch rules in para swimming?Breaststroke and butterfly swimmers stay on the breast and touch with both hands, separated and together, at each turn and finish.
The race and results
- How do blind swimmers know when to turn?A tapper at the end of the lane taps a vision-impaired swimmer with an approved pole as they near the wall.
- How do para swimming relays work?Relay teams have four swimmers whose class numbers are added: the total may not exceed 20 points for 4 x 50 m and 34 for 4 x 100 m in S1 to 10, or 49 for vision classes, with at least one S11.