Para Swimming
Para Swimming
The University of Calgary Swim Club (UCSC) is looking to grow Para swimming at the grassroots level by recruiting young athletes into our Para Pre-Competitive program. This program is designed to help reduce barriers to entry into the sport of swimming. The program runs on Sundays at Foothills Pool, starting late September 2026. Registration will open for Para Classifiable swimmers on August 10. If you are interested in registering for this program, please contact Michelle Downey at: michelle@clagaryswimming.com.
We are looking specifically for physically impaired athletes; however, we understand that every swimmer is unique and comes with their unique challenges and strengths.
Requirements:
Your swimmer must be comfortable in the water. They should be safe to move around the water independently for 5 meters and are comfortable putting their face in the water without flotation aids. A great base skill is diving for rings at the bottom of the pool independently.
·Born within the birth years of 2016-2020 (roughly 5-10 years of age) – if your swimmer is slightly older and can swim 25m without flotation aids please let us know and we can see if we have a good fit for your swimmer.
Must have a diagnosis in one (or more) of the following conditions:
- Amputees/Dysmelia;
- Cerebral palsy/acquired brain injury;
- Spinal cord injury/polio
- Dwarfism
- Others (Major joint restrictions, coordination restriction, limb paralysis/weakness)
If you are interested in registering please reach out to Michelle Downey for additional information.
Below is a select breakdown some Para classifiable impairments that was taken from the World Para Swimming website for reference purposes: https://www.paralympic.org/swimming/classification
Examples of Heath Conditions | |
Athletes with Impaired Muscle Power have a Health Condition that either reduces or eliminates their ability to voluntarily contract their muscles in order to move or to generate force. | Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that can lead to Impaired Muscle Power include spinal cord injury (complete or incomplete, tetra-or paraplegia or paraparesis), muscular dystrophy, post-polio syndrome and spina bifida. |
Athletes with Limb Deficiency have total or partial absence of bones or joints. | Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that can lead to Limb Deficiency include: traumatic amputation, illness (for example amputation due to bone cancer) or congenital limb deficiency (for example dysmelia). |
Athletes with Leg Length Difference have a difference in the length of their legs. | Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that can lead to Leg Length Difference include: dysmelia and congenital or traumatic disturbance of limb growth. |
Athletes with Short Stature will have a reduced length in the bones of the upper limbs, lower limbs and/or trunk. | Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that can lead to Short Stature include achondroplasia, growth hormone dysfunction, and osteogenesis imperfecta. |
Athletes with hypertonia have an increase in muscle tension and a reduced ability of a muscle to stretch caused by damage to the central nervous system. | Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that can lead to Hypertonia include cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and stroke. |
Athletes with Ataxia have uncoordinated movements caused by damage to the central nervous system. | Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that can lead to Ataxia include: cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke and multiple sclerosis. |
Athletes with Athetosis have continual slow involuntary movements. | Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that can lead to Athetosis include cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and stroke. |
Impaired Passive Range of Movement Athletes with Impaired Passive Range of Movement have a restriction or a lack of passive movement in one or more joints. | Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that can lead to Impaired Passive Range of Movement include arthrogryposis and contracture resulting from chronic joint immobilisation or trauma affecting a joint. |
This is a new program for UCSC and will be constantly evolving, please reach out with any questions or concerns.