Special contribution to SwimSwam by Tom Miazga.
Braden sent me a text yesterday to take a look at a comment that was immediately posted after SwimSwam had reported Australia’s Tiffany Thomas Kane’s incredible SB6 100m Breaststroke at IPC Swimming World Championships. Kane, a 13 year-old, is fairly new to the Paralympic Scene but made her presence well-known with an incredible WR performance. With her young age, yes, it is incredibly remarkable and feels similar to a once 13-year old Jessica Long. I won’t deny that a 13 year-old breaking a world record may seem unorthodox, but to comment she was clearly wrongly classed is awfully naive.
I understand that many people currently have their qualms with the classification system and often discuss the topic with trepidation, never knowing who may be listening. With recent discrepancies that have taken place and plenty of experience with the system, I’d be lying if I said I agree the system is flawless. Nonetheless, in Tiffany’s case, her disability and classification is a near perfect fit with the SB6 guidelines. So much so, that to challenge it would be disrespectful to the clear talent she showcased two nights ago.
Briefly, there are classification guidelines that do not provide opportunity for “grey areas”. S6, for instance, is designed for athletes with short stature, hence why dwarfism dominates the class. S11 in similar fashion is for athletes with a complete loss of vision. Either you’ve got it or you are in a different class. Kane, evidently afflicted with dwarfism, is entirely classed correctly. It should be of note that most S6’s stay SB6 for breaststroke as the guideline for the class does not waiver much. Again, the class is dominated by dwarfism, so as the IPC strives to accomplish in the system, everyone is of near abilities.
Finally, watch her race. The amount of water she catches with each stroke is incredibly remarkable. With limited opportunity to reach and stretch the kick as fluidly as possible, her stroke is above and beyond anything I have seen from a SB6 breaststroke. Her timing, head position, and ability to drive both her hands and chest forward deserves far more respect than a frustrated assumption.
Being a Paralmypic swimmer myself, I have never seen any of my teammates as disabled individuals. It can be an interesting site when you gander upon your first race in the Paralympic atmosphere. However, Tiffany’s stroke and talent proves the elite level and dedication that Paralympic swimmers, and athletes in any sport, have towards their passion and dreams.
The new IPC Rules that were released last year highlighted the need to remeasure under 18 short statured swimmers annually due to some exceeding the height limit set for the S6 classification (Female 130cm Male 137cm). It is believed that the annual review will now take a backseat until after Rio which could result in an S6 event being won by a tall dwarf. This is particularly relevant with hypochondroplasia which is a form of short limbed dwarfism and could result in a young swimmer being under 130cm due to age rather than condition. Upon reaching full maturation this could result in them being in the S7 or even the S8 classification on a level playing field with other athletes… Read more »
We are just about to lodge protest.
How can a classifier determine the grading of a person with neurological problems when they know nothing about it.
My sons neurologist , who is a professor and head of neurology at a leading Brisbane hospital has written a letter about my sons condition in relation to the classification levels for disabled swimmers, and given his opinion on where my son should be, based on his medical condition.
These guys can’t go outside the truth or facts.
What more information is needed?
I bet it ends up being a waste of time.
I feel that it is some sort of discrimination.
We will see what happens
Great to hear this Greg and best wishes for your son. Fantastic to see that your neurogist has written to Australian Swimming expressing his opinion. Can you please keep us updated on how you get on? How Swimming Australia responded etc?
Incidently, are you aware that the classification code (process & procedures) has changed significantly for both medical and technical testing? My understanding of these changes is that they are significant and would affect many Swimmers. Interestingly, Swimming Australia and the Australian Paralympic Committee have elected to stay very quiet on these changes. One has to wonder why as it affects their members.
I would certainly enquire about them and how they impact your sons case if I were you.… Read more »
Cheryl and Cody, Interesting views.
This, I found interesting.
A neurologically impaired swimmer was classified three times in a thirty month period over the course of his career. Each time, the swimmer received different bench test scores but the class outcome remained the same. We spent an experimental hour ‘reclassing’ the swimmer using only the highest point score given and then again using only the lowest point score given from the collective classifications.
Using the lowest scores given, the swimmer would have been classed mid S9. Using the highest scores given, the swimmer would have been classed NE by 2 points.
These results, granted using a basic analytical approach, are very disappointing. Even more so given that the highest… Read more »
Matts Musings, I doubt very much that the IPC will return your call.
Cody, I see this as no more than a PR exercise by Craig Spence. On the surface, yes it appears that someone has disturbed the sleepy world of IPC swimming classification academia and a few chosen words and phrases are being tossed around as a result such as the ‘correlation’ of Impairment Type and Relevant ICF Impairment Codes, that a Goniometer will be used for PFROMS and so it goes on.
Until such times as the IPC can better classify neuroligally impairments such as CP using science, then they really shouldn’t bother – pick a class and be done with it, competition has more credibility that way.… Read more »
I was done with this but ….
Important Updates to Swimming Classification Rules and Regulations September 2015
Please check out the following link :-
http://www.paralympic.org/swimming/rules-and-regulations/classification/npc.info
The main changes to the rules as I see it are :-
Height restrictions for short stature SB6/SB7
Bench Testing
Greater clarity overall in coordination / ROM testing & point allocation
Greater clarity on point allocation for Trunk during coordination testing
Technical Observation
A minimum of 50m must now be swam in all strokes during the water test, freestyle to include a further 5m after the turn
Greater purpose to the back & face floats, can now include fly kick to demonstrate stability
Water… Read more »
Great stuff Cody! Well done for posting the link, seems IPC and their NPCs are preferring to keep pretty quiet on this.
Crisis management by IPC Swimming at it’s best though I reckon. Didn’t they think the eyes of the World would be on Glasgow?
Where does the S6/S7 height restrictions place Australias WR holder Thomas Kane?
The changes (not just clarification, thanks IPC) to the Bench Testing (eg PFROMS) & Technical Observation (water test) – at last swimming close to the distances required for evaluation in standard kids learn to swim classes – surely impacts on numerous previous classifications. What is the IPCs plan to address this before Rio?
Any news on the Australian S8 Swimmers Elliott &… Read more »
‘What a mess’ – it’s not an editorial, but we did run through highlights of the changes here:
http://swimswam.com/para-swimming-ipc-changes-classification-rules-procedures/
Comment Regatding Australian Crothers Classification
I have requested clarity from the IPC CEO regarding the Scope of Review of the Appeal Process regarding swimmers classification.
I reference IPC International Standard For Protests and Appeals V1 July 2014
” Sport Class allocation is a SPORT DECISION and should be made by those authoriized and certified by an International Federation to do so. Those decisions cannot be changed save by other persons who are similarly authorized and certified. The Appeal Body may only review the PROCESS by which these decisions have been arrived at to ensure that such process has been fair and in accordance with Classification Rules.”
Crothers is listed in the IPC Classification Masterlist as S9 with Review date… Read more »
So disappointed to read about Ellie Coles funding discrepancies.
Ellie Cole, along side Maddison Elliott received an Order of Australia Medal for services to sport.
What exactly is Australian Swimming doing about all of this?
Where is Matthew Cowdrey for guidance?
This team is in complete disarray.
The only credible way forward as I see it is for National Paralympic Committees and Swimming Organisations to set up Independent Integrity Panels and interview swimmers & staff. The IPC may need to assist financially Nations with less funding available.
The ‘alleged practice of IM’ appears to be isolated to neurological and orthopaedic impaired athletes ie what you see with an amputee is usually what you get. The IPC therefor should review all its classifications of these athletes since London 2012. This process would also provide them with valuable information regarding abilities across these impairments which, in my opinion seems to be lacking. The use of retired or semi retired neurologists and orthopaedic specialists in each nation to assist the… Read more »