S8 (classification)
[3] According to the International Paralympic Committee, examples of those eligible for the S8, SB8 and SM8 classes include "Swimmers who have lost either both hands or one arm [...] also, athletes with severe restrictions in the joints of the lower limbs.
"[2] Jane Buckley, writing for the Sporting Wheelies, an Australian disability association, describes the swimmers in this classification as having: "full use of their arms and trunk with some leg function; Swimmers with coordination problems mainly in the lower limbs; Both legs amputated just above or just below the knee; Single above elbow amputation.
[8] The nature of a person's amputations in this class can effect their physiology and sports performance.
Common problems for intact upper limbs for people in this class include rotator cuffs tearing, shoulder impingement, epicondylitis and peripheral nerve entrapment.
[9][10][11] Because of the potential for balance issues related to having an amputation, during weight training, amputees are encouraged to use a spotter when lifting more than 15 pounds (6.8 kg).
[10] Lower limb amputations effect a person's energy cost for being mobile.
To keep their oxygen consumption rate similar to people without lower limb amputations, they need to walk slower.
[9][10] Because of the potential for balance issues related to having an amputation, during weight training, amputees are encouraged to use a spotter when lifting more than 15 pounds (6.8 kg).
To keep their oxygen consumption rate similar to people without lower limb amputations, they need to walk slower.
Common problems with intact upper limbs for people in this class include rotator cuffs tearing, shoulder impingement, epicondylitis and peripheral nerve entrapment.
[16][17] They have fine motor control on their dominant side of the body, which can present as asymmetry when they are in motion.
[19] Because of the neuromuscular nature of their disability, CP7 and CP8 swimmers have slower start times than other people in their classes.
The longest distances Paralympic S8 swimmers can measure are often half that of comparable Olympic counters.
[4] The integrated classification system used for swimming, where swimmers with CP compete against those with other disabilities, is subject to criticisms has been that the nature of CP is that greater exertion leads to decreased dexterity and fine motor movements.
This puts competitors with CP at a disadvantage when competing against people with amputations who do not lose coordination as a result of exertion.
[26][27] People with lesions at L4 have issues with their lower back muscles, hip flexors and their quadriceps.
[24] People with lesions at the L4 to S2 who are complete paraplegics may have motor function issues in their gluts and hamstrings.
"[26] In Australia, this class means combined lower plus upper limb functional problems.
"[35] It can also mean in Australia that the athlete is "ambulant with moderately reduced function in one or both lower limbs.
This policy was put into place in 2014, with the goal of avoiding last minute changes in classes that would negatively impact athlete training preparations.
All competitors needed to be internationally classified with their classification status confirmed prior to the Games, with exceptions to this policy being dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
In the S8 50 m Freestyle Long Course, the men's world record is held by China's Xiaofu Wang with a time of 00:26.45 and the women's world record is held by China's Shengnan Jiang with a time of 00:30.85.
[48] As part of the water test, swimmers are often required to demonstrate their swimming technique for all four strokes.
[50] Sometimes the health examination may not be done on site for amputees in this class because the nature of the amputation could cause not physically visible alterations to the body.
[51] In Australia, to be classified in this category, athletes contact the Australian Paralympic Committee or their state swimming governing body.
[52] Swimmers who have competed in this classification include Amanda Everlove,[53] Sean Fraser,[53] and Heather Frederiksen,[53] who all won medals in their class at the 2008 Paralympics.
