Arabic version: صيغة «سويم جي بي» تعزز حضور السباحة البارالمبية

According to ABC News, Swim GP’s made-for-TV racing format has put para-swimmers at the centre of competition at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatics Centre. Four teams — Kraken, Wahoo, King Tide and Tsunami — raced before a sold-out crowd in events including skins races and mystery medley relays, where touching the wall first matters more than times.

Swimming Australia Paralympic head coach Mel Tantrum said the event brought Olympic and Paralympic athletes together while building the athletes’ profiles in prime time. Swimming Australia chief executive Rob Woodhouse said including para-swimmers was one of the most important factors in planning the event, describing it as a “no-brainer”.

Woodhouse said competing in a loud, brightly lit venue could help athletes who have sensory issues gain experience before major trials and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. He also said showcasing para-athletes could provide an aspirational example for young people, including children with disabilities who may not have opportunities to get into a pool or other sports.

The competition used staggered starts to enable swimmers from different classifications to race together. Starting gaps were based on each swimmer’s season best for the distance, aiming to create close finishes. Paralympic swimmer Lakeisha Patterson said the approach made races exciting and could help fans understand how multi-class swimming works.

Patterson won Saturday night’s opening multi-class mixed 100m event, swimming butterfly and recording a personal best. Tantrum said the technology being trialled on the blocks allows athletes of different classes and genders to race together. She said the format could potentially inform future multi-class events, including at the Commonwealth Games, and encourage other sports to consider similar integration.