At the Paralympic Games, para swimming uses a 50-metre pool for standard long-course races.
The 50-metre distance refers to the length of the competition pool, not the distance of every race. Paralympic swimming programmes include races from short sprints to long-distance events, and athletes may compete in freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and individual medley races.
Para swimming adapts starts, turns and finishes for athletes’ needs. Some swimmers begin from the starting platform, while others may start in the water. Tappers can signal an approaching wall to swimmers with visual impairments, and officials apply rules designed around the athlete’s classification and safe participation.
The 50-metre pool is often called a long-course pool. It should not be confused with a 25-metre short-course pool, which is used in other swimming competitions. The pool length is a venue standard; classifications and event eligibility are separate parts of Paralympic swimming.