Classification reprieve for US swim star
LONDON, Sept 1, 2012 (AFP) - US swim star Victoria Arlen has been given a reprieve amid question marks over her classification, freeing her up to race in the S6 400m final on Saturday without fear of being stripped of a medal.
She was later re-instated on appeal and on Saturday morning was second-fastest in qualifying for the 400m final behind Britain's defending champion Ellie Simmonds, who also won the 100m in Beijing.
Concerns had been raised that Arlen could be stripped of the gold medal if she were to win because of doubts about her eligibility to swim in the S6 category.
But the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said in a statement that she will “continue to compete in the S6 class, with a review date set for August 2013”.
“Due to the different technicality of stroke required in breaststroke a similar observation in competition will take place in her first SB race,” it added.
Athletes in Paralympic swimming compete according to the nature and level of their impairments.
Categories one to 10 are allocated to swimmers with a physical disability. The lower the number, the more severe the impairment. The letter indicates the stroke.
Arlen was diagnosed with the neurological disorder post-infectious transverse myelitis, which affects the spinal cord, at the age of 12 and was in a vegetative state for two years. Simmonds, 17, was born with achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism.
Arlen said after her heat that she had tried not to let the controversy affect her and described the situation as “a rollercoaster” but was matter-of-fact about the situation.
“It comes with the sport, I'm just happy to swim and represent my country,” she added. Simmonds, who won double gold in Beijing at the age of just 13, swam a new Paralympic best of 5mins The 17-year-old is the current world record holder in the women's S6 100m and 400m freestyle but was declared “non-eligible” earlier this week “because certain information was not provided” when her classification was assessed 24.64 secs, just 0.18secs outside Arlen's world record.
Another US swimmer facing classification difficulties was Mallory Weggemann, who saw herself moved up a category as she prepared to swim seven events at the Games.
She said this week that she had “lost faith” in the system but on Saturday reached the final of the women's SB7 100m breaststroke, where she will come up against compatriot Jessica Long, who already has two golds.
“I'd be happy with a best personal time in the final. Jessica is flying so I don't expect to win a medal,” she said.
“For me personally, I overcame my biggest hurdle four years ago when I was paralysed and in four years, to be able to turn my life around and be in the Paralympic Games and on Team USA, is a huge accomplishment.
“The reclassification was very tough and the timing of it was obviously not the best. But at the end of the day I am still here and I will be racing tonight”.