How are blind swimmers classified?
I · Intermediate · Classes and events · 1 of 6S11 to S13 are set by the vision of the better eye with the best correction, by acuity and field tests; S11 is the most severe. S14 is for swimmers with an intellectual impairment who meet INAS eligibility and pass a battery of sport cognition tests. S11 swimmers wear blackened goggles and must be tapped.
How it works
- S11: the most severe vision impairment.
- S12 and S13: less severe acuity or narrow field.
- Measured: better eye, best correction.
- S11 swimmers: blackened goggles and tapping.
- S14: INAS eligibility first.
- Cognitive tests: a battery of five.
- Under review: the vision classes are being reviewed.
- Same class: for all strokes.
The glossary has the S11 to S13, the vision classification, the S14, the sport cognition test battery, the blackened goggles and the tapper.
Tricky cases
Does an S12 swimmer have to be tapped?
No. Tapping is optional outside S11.
Can an S11 swimmer race without goggles?
Only with prostheses in both eyes.
Is S14 open to any learning difficulty?
No. The swimmer must meet INAS criteria and be tested.
Are the vision classes fixed for good?
They are under review by World Para Swimming.
Why the rule exists
Testing the better eye with the best correction means classes reflect sight that cannot be fixed. Cognitive tests show how an intellectual impairment affects swimming.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| S11 | Goggles and tapping compulsory | 10.8.3.1, 11.8.8 |
| S12 and S13 | Tapping optional | 10.8.3.3 |
| S14 | INAS eligibility | CR A3 |
From the rule book
World Para Swimming, Classification Rules and Regulations, August 2022, Appendices Two and Three, with World Para Swimming, Rules and Regulations, February 2026, sections 10.8.3 and 11.8.8. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the World Para Swimming Rules and Regulations, February 2026.