Classification

Swimmers must have at least one of the five Eligible Physical Impairments listed:

• Impaired Muscle Power
• Impaired Passive Range of Movement
• Limb Deficiency and/or Limb Length Difference
• Short Stature
• Coordination Impairment
  • Hypertonia/Spasticity
  • Motor Ataxia
  • Dyskinesia (athetosis, dystonia, chorea)

The impairment must be permanent and it must be a direct result of an Underlying Health Condition.

New Swimmers

Classification is available to swimmers aged 8 and older. New swimmers can access a Provisional Classification. Medical documentation from a specialist is required confirming the eligible diagnosis.

A Provisional status classification is valid for club, local, regional levels of competition only.  It also carries through to the National level in the School Sport System.

Contact: classification@swimming.org.au for further information and an application.

National Athletes

A National status classification is required for Swimming Australia National Championships. Athletes attend a face-to-face classification assessment opportunity hosted by Swimming Australia or their state swimming association.

International Athletes

Athletes with a national classification are put forward by Swimming Australia for international classification when they are tracking for National Team selection.

Paralympics Australia is responsible for managing classification opportunities for swimmers with a vision impairment. Swimmers wishing to obtain a vision impairment classification are required to complete the VI Request for Classification Form.

This puts swimmers in direct contact with Paralympics Australia who will guide you through the process.  Swimmers seeking a review for a national vision classification are also required to complete this request.

Sport Inclusion Australia (SIA) are the national organisation responsible for classifying swimmers with an Intellectual Impairment.

There are currently three different eligibility groups:

II-1 – Intellectual Disability

II-2 – Intellectual Disability with significant additional impairment, and

II-3 – Autism

Swimmers wishing to obtain an intellectual impairment classification please visit Sport Inclusion Australia to review eligibility criteria.

Deaf Sports Australia (DSA) is the national sports organisation that are responsible for Hearing Impaired Classifications. Further information regarding classification can be found at Deaf Sports

Any swimmer wishing to complete in multi-class swimming under a Transplant Australia Classification are advised to contact Transplant Sports Australia for information on eligibility and applications.

The National Classification Masterlist is the official record of all Australian classified swimmers and is managed by Swimming Australia in agreement with classification system partners. Swimming Australia makes public certain classification information to assist athletes, coaches and meet organisers (e.g. swimmer name, gender, state, class and status).

Classification Masterlist 2 September 2025

Multiple Classifications

If a swimmer has multiple classifications, they must choose which impairment category to compete under;

• Physical (Classes 1-10)
• Visual (Classes 11-13)
• Intellectual (Classes 14, 18 & 19)
• Hearing (Class 15)
• Transplant (Class 16)

A swimmer is not able to combine different impairment categories to make up a classification.

Swim Central Member Profile

Classification information is recorded on Swim Central and the relevant information can be found under ‘My Memberships’ in a members profile. A member may provide this as proof to the relevant competition technical official if required.

To locate this within Swim Central:

1) Login to Swim Central

2) On the menu list, select the ‘My Membership’ tile (if you are a guardian, unlock your individual profile then select the relevant dependent to impersonate)

3) Select the swimmer’s club membership. This will showcase the membership card and present the classification information.

Card information:

Multi Class: Members classification (eg. S10, SB9, SM10)

!: Exceptions (eg A 3,5,12+)

i: Review year (eg 2026)

World Para Swimming Classification is required to take part in WPS approved and sanctioned competition.

All swimmers with an international Paralympic classification can be viewed in the World Para Swimming Classification Master List.

Multi-class classification events are held for new swimmers wishing to obtain a classification or swimmers with a current classification requiring a review are run by State Swimming bodies throughout the year.

*Dates may vary due to circumstances outside of Swimming Australia’s control.  Dates are accurate as at 26 August 2025.

People with disabilities can race in both able-bodied and open water events provided they meet the competition entry requirements (e.g. QT’s if applicable), but there is also a format of competition designed for people with disabilities.  This format is called Multiple Classification competition or Multi-Class for short.

Multi-Class events are normal swimming events with some modifications to the rules and regulations.

All swimmers need to prove they have an eligible classification prior to entering all multi-class events. Swimmers must complete the relevant classification process before they are eligible to compete as a multi-class swimmer.

The Multi-Class Point Score (MCPS) has been developed to provide a simplified way for swimmers and coaches to measure and compare performances.

The MCPS is based on the World Record (WR) times for each classification. The MCPS is used for determining results in Multi-Class competition, and may be used to assist to create the JX program standards, team and squad selection and qualifying standards.

2025 Long Course Multi-Class Point Score Calculator [Excel]

2025 Short Course Multi-Class Point Score Calculator [Excel]

Some swimmers are entitled to receive exceptions to the swimming rules and other considerations based on their classification.

The exceptions prevent classified swimmers from being disqualified during Multi Class (MC) competition. These exceptions are determined during the classification process and are identified by a system of codes known as the Swimming Codes of Exceptions.

Note: exceptions that contain a * signify that the member contains an exception that is applied from the IPC code of exceptions.

IPC Code Exceptions can be found here: IPC-Para-Swimming-Exception-Codes.

WPS Code Exceptions can be found here: WPS_NSW_2020_Codes of Exceptions.

There are 19 classes in the swimming classification system which caters for a range of disabilities. Each class has minimum eligibility requirements and swimmers must undergo specific Athlete Evaluation or Eligibility process to obtain a classification. Swimmers receive a class for each stroke discipline, and a prefix indicates which stroke the class applies to;

• The prefix S to the class denotes the class for Freestyle, Backstroke & Butterfly
• The prefix SB to the class denotes the class for Breaststroke
• The prefix SM to the class denotes the class for Individual Medley

All Classes are allocated a Sport Class Status which indicates conditions of a swimmers classification.

The status may affect the level of Multi Class competition a swimmer can compete in and if a swimmer’s classification needs to be reviewed. Status is allocated at the completion of the Athlete Evaluation Process.

 

There are many options to participate and compete in multi-class competition, both for enjoyment and for chasing High Performance aspirations.

Paralympic Competition Pathway

Non Paralympic Competition Pathway

Eligible Impairments

World Para Swimming Classification is required to take part in WPS approved and sanctioned competition and is therefore a requirement for selection to the Australian Dolphins Swim Team.

International Classification Explanatory Guide 2022

Swimming Australia is responsible for identifying and facilitating this process for all Australian swimmers. Generally, swimmers who are likely to achieve selection to the Australian Dolphins Swim Team are invited to undergo the international classification process.