Athletes Without Limits is looking for talented swimmers with intellectual disability to represent the US at upcoming national and international swim meets.
As the US member of INAS, Athletes Without Limits offers opportunities for US swimmers to compete at the highest levels in their sport. International competitions are already being organized by INAS and the IPC and are run according to FINA rules. Just like in Olympic competition, there are no separate categories by ability level—the top three times in each event win Gold, Silver and Bronze.
Qualified athletes may be able to travel to international competitions with the US delegation and there are new opportunities for Paralympic competition now that a class for intellectual disability has been added at the IPC World Championships and London 2012 Paralympics and other IPC Swimming events.
Athletes must meet the INAS eligibility requirements and complete the eligibility application to be considered and there are often time standards for events. Please review eligibility guidelines and contact us if you know of any athletes who may be interested in competing in or aspiring to compete in national and international elite level competition. We look forward to meeting you!
International: INAS Swimming
The International Federation for Sport for Athletes with an Intellectual Disability (INAS-FID) offers world championship level swimming events for athletes with intellectual disability.
INAS competitors are an elite group of athletes from around the world making great achievements in swimming. See the world records and rankings on the INAS website to see just how fast world champion athletes with intellectual disability are. We are excited to have two US swimmers among those rankings from the July 2009 trip to Global Games. We look forward to seeing more US swimmers in those rankings in years to come!
Interested US athletes should work with Athletes Without Limits to complete the athlete eligibility process in order to compete in INAS swimming events. Athletes Without Limits will organize trips to INAS swim events based on athlete interest. Please contact us for more information.
Rules:
All INAS swimming competitions are held according to INAS Swimming Specifications and are officiated by the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA). As with all INAS-FID competitions, only the top athletes in each event win; there are no separate divisions by ability level as in Special Olympic events.
Paralympic Swimming
Following the November 2009 vote to re-include athletes with intellectual disability into Paralympic competition, IPC Swimming is one of the inclusive sports. US swimmers with intellectual disability have the opportunity to qualify to represent the US at the London 2012 Games or other IPC Swimming events such as World Championships. More information will be posted as it becomes available, however the IPC has stated that meeting INAS eligibility criteria (which is managed by Athletes Without Limits in the US) is the first step toward Paralympic classification.
Note: The Paralympic swimming class for athletes with intellectual disability is “14.” The Prefix S to the class denotes the class for Freestyle, Backstroke and Butterfly (ex: S14); The Prefix SB to the class denotes the class for Breaststroke (e.g.” SB14); The Prefix SM to the class denotes the class for Individual Medley (e.g. SM14).
National: Swimming Opportunities in the US
Athletes Without Limits supports the identification and development of US swimmers with intellectual disability—please contact us if you are interested in learning more about swimming opportunities in the US.
The US Swimming website provides a list of swimming clubs by area. For athletes aged 18 and over the US Masters Swimming website also provides a list of swimming clubs.
For a complete list of US Paralympic Swimming Events which —denoted or not on the event materials— are now open to athletes with intellectual disability (Class S14, SB14, SM14) visit www.usparalympics.org. (Note that event materials may not have been updated to provide details for the new class for athletes with intellectual disability.)
Swimming News & Events
Maria D’Andrea and Gail Morning Make Strong Showing at First Paralympic Meet
June 1, 2010: Athletes Without Limits swimmers compete together with physically disabled Paralympic swimmers for the first time at the 2010 GTAC Disability Meet at the University of Cincinnati.
read more
7th Annual GTAC Paralympic Swim Meet
May 15-16, 2010 : University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
read moreCourier Times Features Global Games Swimmer Maria D’Andrea
"A world of experience for Bensalem's D'Andrea" by Karen Sangillo, Staff Writer
read moreUS Brings Home Medals and High Rankings at 2009 Global Games
July 14, 2009 : Three US athletes with intellectual disability represented the US at the 2009 Global Games held in Liberec, Czech Republic July 5 – 14. Nearly 1,000 elite athletes from 40 countries competed for gold, silver and bronze in seven sports.
read moreUSA Wins First Medal at 2009 Global Games
July 8, 2009: Liberec, Czech Republic - Cyclist Syd Lea Wins Bronze in Individual Time Trial; Swimmer Maria D'Andrea Ranks 8th in the World in Distance Event.
read moreFirst US Team to Compete at Global Games in Czech Republic July 5-14
June 29, 2009: Nearly 1,500 elite athletes with intellectual disability from 40 countries will compete for world championships in nine sports.
read more2009 Global Games Czech Republic
July 4-15, 2009: Liberec, Czech Republic - With the startup of Athletes Without Limits opportunities to compete at a high level in Cycling, Swimming, Track & Field, Rowing, Table Tennis and other sports are open to US athletes for the first time!
read moreRecruiting Athletes for First US Team to Compete at Global Games
March 1, 2009: Athletes Without Limits is looking for talented athletes with intellectual disability for new international opportunity to compete against top athletes in the World.
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Spring Break Training Camp
We’re hosting a Spring Break Rowing Camp for athletes with intellectual disability in Washington DC April 4-7, 2012. Train from the Anacostia Community Boathouse with our award-winning rowing team...
