Swimming World Championships; US Swimmer Ineligible

Swimming World Championships Start

The 2013 International Paralympic Committee Swimming World Championships kicked off in Montreal.

So far, 24 medal events have occurred with three world records having been broken. Four regional records were also broken.

Ukraine leads all countries with six golds and 12 total medals.

The World Championships run through August 17.

US Swimmer Ineligible

United States swimmer Victoria Arlen was declared ineligible for the 2013 International Paralympic Committee Swimming World Championships in Montreal.

The London 2012 world-record holder "failed to provide conclusive evidence of a permanent eligible impairment," according to an IPC statement.

"Following her classification at the London 2012 Paralympic Games last August, IPC Swimming requested a medical report into her impairment within 12 months," said the IPC.

"The medical report has been reviewed by five independent medical experts. All are in agreement that the report, its assessment and its diagnosis fail to provide sufficient evidence of an eligible impairment leading to permanent or verifiable activity limitation - which is required under the IPC Swimming Classification Rules and Regulations."

The decision to declare Arlen ineligible has sparked outrage among two United States Senators from New Hampshire.

Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte sent a letter to the IPC voicing their objections to the decision.

"The way in which the International Paralympic Committee conducted itself regarding the classification process of Victoria is reprehensible," the letter said.

"Not only does this decision have a direct impact on Victoria but it also affects the sport of swimming, as well as the sponsors and coaches involved in the competition."

Athlete of the Month

Walid Ktila of Tunisia was voted International Paralympic Committee's Athlete of the Month for July.

He won the award after winning four events at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon, France. He swept the 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m distances in the T34 category.

Ktila won 46% of the public’s vote, 19% in ahead of Canadian T53 wheelchair racer Brent Lakatos.

Nominations for Athlete of the month are gathered from National Paralympic Committees and International Federations.

Written by Aaron Bauer

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