World Para Swimming Championships facts for kids
The World Para Swimming Championships are a super exciting international competition where amazing athletes with disabilities show off their swimming skills. Think of it as the Olympics for swimmers with disabilities! These championships are organized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). The IPC helps manage many sports for athletes with disabilities around the world.
These championships used to happen every four years. Now, they take place every two years. This schedule means they happen one year after regional championships and one year before the big Paralympic Games.
In November 2016, the IPC decided to use the "World Para" name for all ten sports they manage, including swimming. So, what was once called the "IPC Swimming World Championships" became the "World Para Swimming Championships." This change helped make all their events easier to recognize.
Contents
Discovering the History of Para Swimming Championships
Let's dive into the history of these incredible swimming events! The very first championships for swimmers with disabilities were called the IPC Swimming Championships. They happened a long time ago, from July 14 to 26, 1990, in Assen, a city in the Netherlands. This was just one year after the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) was created.
The first event officially known as the World Para Swimming Championships took place much later, from December 2 to 7, 2017, in Mexico City. This was after the name change in 2016.
Long Course Championships: A Journey Through Time
"Long Course" swimming means the races happen in a 50-meter pool. This is the standard size for most major swimming competitions. Here's a look at all the Long Course World Championships that have taken place:
| Number | Year | Venue | Dates | Best nation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPC Swimming Championships | ||||
| 1 | 1990 |  Assen |
14 – 26 July | unknown |
| 2 | 1994 |  Valletta |
1 – 9 November | unknown |
| 3 | 1998 |  Christchurch |
7 – 17 October |  Canada |
| 4 | 2002 |  Mar del Plata |
3 – 12 December |  Great Britain |
| 5 | 2006 |  Durban |
2 – 8 December |  United States |
| 6 | 2010 | Eindhoven |
15 – 21 August |  Ukraine |
| 7 | 2013 |  Montreal |
11 – 17 August | Ukraine |
| 8 | 2015 |  Glasgow |
13 – 19 July |  Russia |
| World Para Swimming Championships | ||||
| 9 | 2017 |  Mexico City |
2 – 7 December |  China |
| 10 | 2019 | London |
9 – 15 September |  Italy |
| 11 | 2022 |  Madeira |
12 – 18 June | Italy |
| 12 | 2023 | Manchester |
31 July – 6 August | Italy |
| 13 | 2025 |  Singapore |
21 – 27 September | |
Short Course Championships: A Unique Event
"Short Course" swimming means the races happen in a 25-meter pool. This type of pool is half the length of a long course pool. So far, there has only been one Short Course World Championship for Para Swimming:
| Number | Year | Venue | Dates | Best nation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2009 |  Rio de Janeiro |
29 Nov – 5 Dec |  Russia |
See also
In Spanish: Campeonato Mundial de Natación Adaptada para niños
- Amazing World Records in Para Swimming
- European Para Swimming Competitions
- Swimming at the Paralympic Games
