Maddison Elliott Added to Indianapolis Classification Schedule

The classification schedule for the 2017 Para Swimming World Series stop in Indianapolis next week has been updated to include the name of Paralympic gold medalist Maddison Elliott. She was originally omitted from the list – which made her the only Australian swimmer requiring a classification review who wasn’t being tested in Indianapolis.

In the latest version of the list, posted on June 2nd (after an inquiry by SwimSwam as to what meet Elliott planned to be classified at prior to the World Championships), she is one of 7 Australians who will undergo classification.

The 7:

Fellow World Record holder Tiffany Thomas-Kane and Lakeisha Patterson are also due to be classified in Indianapolis.

The 6 Australians undergoing classification on Classification Schedule Part 1 will all be reviewed by the same B Panel, including Elliott, who will be their first participant at 9AM U.S. East Coast time on Tuesday, June 6th.

Elliott is a 9-time Paralympic medalists, including 4 golds. 3 of those 4 golds came in Rio, where she won the 50 and 100 freestyles in the S8 category and was a member of Australia’s winning 34-point 400 free relay.

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Shonda
7 years ago

And that’s a wrap in Indianapolis. Whilst it’s mind boggling for me to watch Aus Lakeisha Patterson walk away with an S8 classification, it must be even more so for re-classified Elliott. Proof this week then that the classifiers cannot or do not want to spot fake CP.

Lumpy
7 years ago

You will be all caught out one day as an IM cheat , And hopefully hand all your medals back and hang your heads in shame , why you need to pretend you have a worse disability is disgusting, when you swim well , why not have have a fair race surly it be more satisfaction rather than winning over someone who clearly can not compete fairly , the buzz you would get to know you won ,
Having a kick andive or a turn against a swimmer has none of them is not and even race
How would you get satisfaction over that ? You make your self look like a cheat and get no respect at… Read more »

Mark
Reply to  Lumpy
7 years ago

Yet another dislike what sort of person can dislike a post asking for a sport to be fair!!!!
I can guess who it is and to be fair what a sad person you are

Shonda
7 years ago

Day2 results Aus Elliott

50 free 31.60 +1.87 over PB
100 back 1:24.57 +7.41 over PB
200IM 3:05.52 +15.79 over PB

Heat and Final times fairly identical. All 3 swims slower than her posted 2017 National Times. 10 seconds slower in 200IM.

I sincerely hope that they aren’t cheating again – for the 3rd time. If so then this will all have been planned prior. I won’t be surprised to learn that Australia have put in a protest about her S9 classification, which they are perfectly entitled to do at any time prior to the end of the meet under the new rules. Let’s see how she goes in 100 free and 100 fly tomorrow.

Fred
Reply to  Shonda
7 years ago

And whether she swims as an 8 or a 9

Sarah
Reply to  Shonda
7 years ago

So quick to judge aren’t you shonda/shonad. Ever thought of the possibility that something else may be going on say an injury or illness? they way you attack people is downright disgusting and you should be ashamed.

Cassie
Reply to  Sarah
7 years ago

Well said Sarah! Shonda/Shonad keeps attacking quite a handful of swimmers left, right and centre!

NICOLE
Reply to  Cassie
7 years ago

Shonda, why do you keep attacking Australian swimmers? Elliott, Patterson, Lihou, Leonhardt, Greenwood, Watson etc etc etc, why? Neurological conditions are complex. No one, besides them and their team, understands how these conditions affect the individual. Just stop with the horrible comments. Instead celebrate their success! Ok, celebrate it! They all work very hard, and overcome many obstacles. Well done to them.

Para Fan
Reply to  NICOLE
7 years ago

It is positioning Paralympic swimming as an alternative to able bodied swimmers who want instant success. I have had swimmers with a rotator cuff injury ask me if they would classify as a para swimmer because they are now “disabled”. When they see swimmers that appear to be completely able bodied and race like able bodied athletes they think surgery, a spasm or a muscle tear is a disability. It cheats the entire system. It also infuriates swimmers and parents that literally have struggled for years to cope with, live with, train with, and compete with a condition that doesn’t get better and restricts function, movement, and ultimately speed.

There is no conceivable way that a D1 university swimming… Read more »

Fred
Reply to  Para Fan
7 years ago

Patterson’ cheating is just so blatant with no apparent concern about repercussions, you have to think she is protected in some way and she knows it.

Mark
Reply to  NICOLE
7 years ago

Nicole
How can anyone in their right mind celebrate the deliberate misrepresentation of their CP ???
If the likes of the swimmers you have named genuinely had the disability at the level they claim then people would be behind them 100%.
The fact that you made that post shows you have not read all the threads on the site, how can one swimmer state on video they have the early onset of Parkinson’s disease then say a few years later it was a slip of the tongue or be photographed with a clawed left hand only to be photographed with it displaying the V sign.
That is wrong and should not be praised in any way,… Read more »

Mark
Reply to  Cassie
7 years ago

Wow Lacey
That’s some statement to make when your part of the problem.
If you think it’s ok to cheat by claiming your disability is worse than it is then that makes you just as bad as those that cheat. Are you such a parent ??
Well time is running out for the cheats
The evidence is gathering and the IPC will have to act but hay I suppose you sat in the same meeting as me in their HQ in Bonn and watched their faces when written statements from both Australian swimmers and Coaches were handed over.
Oh that’s right you weren’t were you
So please only comment on facts you know not… Read more »

Shonda
Reply to  Cassie
7 years ago

You are obviously aware that I, Shona Duckworth contacted the IPC and reported Lakeisha Patterson for cheating. The thing is, you should not know. That was confidential correspondence between the IPC, their independent lawyer and myself. Lacey, watch this space as they say

Lumpy
Reply to  Sarah
7 years ago

Quite tight Shonda , I said she would do a performance of a life time we all knew this would happen , cheating at its finest to be told by Aus swimming coach trying desperately to get back to an s8 like all the other times she has done this time and time again put up then put down after a rubbish swim !
What can we do now ?? To me not a lot as I have done personally everything I can think of and ipc not listening, maybe taking back handers who knows anymore but
One last thing up my sleeve and maybe time to go to media

Mark
Reply to  Sarah
7 years ago

Or is Shonda just telling the truth as cheating is coached within the Aussie squad

Shonda
Reply to  Sarah
7 years ago

I haven’t attacked. I have merely brought Elliotts Glasgow 2015 classification debacle to the forefront for open discussion, just incase she is duped into the same course of action. She is 18, what she does now, legally, she will be responsible for.

Sarah
Reply to  Shonda
7 years ago

So Shonda, what are you thoughts on the heats and finals times from the USA para trials? Some swimmers doing over 20 seconds slower in heats. Look at Jessica Long for instance, 200IM +23.26 OVER her entrance time. Some were close to going nearly 1 minute over entrance times.

Lumpy
7 years ago

Hello can you explain why some of
My post are not visible please

Kel
7 years ago

I would like to know as I might consider starting up a swimming program within the school. It would be great to have advice from a neurologist in terms of how these condition affect a swimmer. We have quite a few kids with CP, ABI, SCI and intellectual. Does Autism come under the S14 classification?

Sportygeek
Reply to  Kel
7 years ago

Autistic swimmers with an IQ <75 come under the S14 classification. Autistic swimmers with higher IQs are sometimes allowed to compete in Special Olympics, but are not classifiable unless they have another eligible impairment. In Britain, some autistic swimmers used to compete in the S17 (dyspraxia) classification, which no longer exists: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/may/13/swimmers-dyspraxia-fall-foul-paralympics-bureaucracy

Kel
7 years ago

Mark, I’ve seen on other threads that you state that you are a board certified neurologist. I am simply a general spectator, who has only just begun following paralympic swimming after a child with CP was placed in my YR 6 class this year, and he has just started swimming, unsure if he will get classified but he enjoys swimming. I have also previously taught a child with a T8 spinal cord injury and I am curious how the below conditions affect people whilst swimming. I am interested in possibly studying a post grad in special education. I have also had experience with neurological condition due to my Aunt’s illness (parkinsons) and that is a terrible illness. I have just… Read more »

Mark
Reply to  Kel
7 years ago

Your greatly misinformed I am no Dr by any means and have never claimed to be one.
I post a thread from a Dr who had posted on this group you should contact him

Mark
Reply to  Mark
7 years ago

Who dislikes a comment which is telling the truth unless your a complete Vutulaki

Sportygeek
Reply to  Kel
7 years ago

Re spinal cord injury (or spina bifida), level of injury matters a lot, and incomplete injuries are common. This is a reasonable summary: http://www.brainandspinalcord.org/levels-of-spinal-cord-injury/

A person with a complete C6 SCI would typically have no leg or trunk function, no/limited triceps and no hand function; they would likely swim in the S2 classification. Someone with a complete C8 injury would typically have no leg or trunk function, weak hands, and swim in the S4 classification. Someone with a complete SCI in the upper thoracic spine (T1-T8ish) would typically have no leg function and impaired trunk function, but normal arms and hands; they would likely swim in the S5 classification. Someone with a complete SCI… Read more »

Amelia
Reply to  Sportygeek
7 years ago

Thanks for explaining SCI Sportygeek. I’m keen to learn more about that area. I volunteer with the spinal injuries program at a hospital.. Are you classified? Then why would someone like Tapp (T12 incomplete, isn’t yet classified) be an S8 in your opinion? She is very strong. She may never swim besides for triathlon, but someone said her name in this conversation so can’t quite figure out the whole classification system. Is that because she can walk short distances, although like you, she would use the chair around pool deck. Is it difficult to swim with an injury? I guess you’d have to learn how to rebalance.

Sportygeek
Reply to  Amelia
7 years ago

I don’t know why someone raised Emily Tapp’s name in this discussion, given that she does not compete in para-swimming. Classification is determined by point scores in a bench test and water test (followed by observation in competition). On bench test, a swimmer who was functionally similar to Emily Tapp would score 5/5 (normal) for arm and hand muscles, perhaps 4/5 for trunk, and get at least something for many/most leg muscles (moving through full range against gravity is a 3/5, moving through range with gravity eliminated is 2/5, muscle activation without useful movement is 1/5). Depending on the exact point scores, and how the swimmer moved through the water (can they kick functionally?), they could end up anything from… Read more »

amelia
Reply to  Sportygeek
7 years ago

Perhaps the person who raised it heardd rumour she might start competing? If she did, she’d be a good asset to the team. She would have high change of winning as she’s very strong.

Will Aus have a 20 point relay team at words? How will that one work for the future? Will Ahmed and Scooter be back? Would be nice to see an IM relay added.

Mark
Reply to  Kel
7 years ago

I am not a Dr and never claimed to be all I did was copy and paste a post from a specialist who might be worth contacting

Parker
7 years ago

My son was found to be NE after a protest and going through both panels this week. It’s disheartening to see inconsistencies between the two panels in terms of the bench test and coordination testing. It was extremely uncomfortabl to observe the medical and technical arguing over scores when the technical specializes in CP, especially since something so important to a swimmer is at stake. He pushed himself hard and did things for the sake of wanting to do his best. He is a right side hemi with decreased muscle tone, coordination and balance after a stroke. Meanwhile today, he watched aussi S10’s do squat jumps behind the blocks and step onto the starting blocks without using the step, rails… Read more »

Fred
Reply to  Parker
7 years ago

Parker
Would you tell us the names of the classifiers on both panels please

Parker
Reply to  Fred
7 years ago

I am awaiting that information. We had to sign a request before the info would be sent. I will let you know!

Mary
Reply to  Parker
7 years ago

was he panel A or B

Parker
Reply to  Mary
7 years ago

Protested the first panel so he actually had both. Scores were not consistent.

Mary
Reply to  Parker
7 years ago

What happened Parker??

Mark
Reply to  Parker
7 years ago

Parker
This happens often and can feel like a massive kick in the teeth but don’t give up and pls contact me and I will give you some info that might help
[email protected]

Lumpy
Reply to  Parker
7 years ago

And hats exactly what is happening , they have their favourite swimmers and put them where they need to be and not where they should be , a lot of cheating going on this is not fairnonntour son at all
Another class example going on right here ….

Parker
Reply to  Lumpy
7 years ago

Ultimately I think the IPC is working to remove CP as a classifiable disability.

Mark
7 years ago

17 sec added to entry time so it looks like the old trick of swim slow to try and get back to S8 ??

Tas
Reply to  Mark
7 years ago

I can’t believe u guys are still here complaining. Her time was reasonable on the other hand Shelby Newkirk added 90 seconds on her 4free observation swim back in march

Mark
Reply to  Tas
7 years ago

I can’t believe your happy to see a cheat compete and tarnish the sport !!

Sportygeek
Reply to  Mark
7 years ago

17 seconds slower than her 5:01 entry time is still slightly faster than the 5:19 she swam in the 400 free at Aus Nationals two months ago.

Mary
Reply to  Mark
7 years ago

It was a heat swim. No one swims their best in a heat swim. Its common knowledge.

Shonda
Reply to  Mary
7 years ago

It was her first appearance swim, part of the classification process. Everyone is expected to swim to the best of their ability during classification, that is the rule. That is also common knowledge.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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