Editing Down syndrome (section)

===Paralympic Swimming===

[[International Paralympic Committee]] [[Para-swimming classification]] codes are based upon single impairment only, whereas Down syndrome individuals have both physical and intellectual impairments.

Although Down syndrome swimmers are able to compete in the [[Para swimming|Paralympic Swimming]] [[S14 (classification)|S14]] intellectual impairment category (provided they score low in IQ tests), they are often outmatched by the superior physicality of their opponents.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1117707/ipc-athletes-downs-syndrome-paralympics|title=IPC urged to allow greater numbers of athletes with Down's syndrome to compete at Paralympics|publisher=Insidethegames.biz|author=Liam Morgan|date=January 12, 2022|access-date=March 2, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/paralympics-calls-down-syndrome-category-28545992|title=Paralympics faces calls for Down's syndrome category to ensure level playing field|publisher=Mirror|author=Liam Llewellyn|date=November 21, 2022|access-date=February 10, 2024}}</ref>

At present there is no designated Paralympic category for swimmers with Down syndrome, meaning they have to compete as intellectually disadvantaged athletes. This disregards their physical disabilities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mashable.com/article/down-syndrome-athletes-paralympics|title=Athletes with Down syndrome fight for inclusion at the Paralympics|publisher=Mashable.com|author=Ariel Bogle|date=August 29, 2016|access-date=March 2, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/more-sports/olympics/news/29177/12563240/paralympic-dream-for-british-down-syndrome-swimmers-at-first-national-championships|title=Paralympic dream for British Down syndrome swimmers at first national championships|publisher=Sky Sports|author=Rebecca Williams|date=March 11, 2022|access-date=March 2, 2024}}</ref>

A number of advocacy groups globally have been lobbying for the inclusion of a distinct classification category for Down syndrome swimmers within the IPC Classification Codes framework.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.portugalresident.com/special21-celebrates-world-down-syndrome-day-in-albufeira/|title=Special21 celebrates World Down Syndrome Day in Albufeira|publisher=Portugal Resident|date=March 25, 2022|access-date=March 2, 2024}}</ref>

Despite ongoing advocacy, the issue remains unresolved, and swimmers with Down syndrome continue to face challenges in accessing appropriate classification pathways.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dsiso.org/paralympics-participation-swimmers-with-down-syndrome/|title=Paralympics Participation swimmers with Down syndrome|publisher=Down Syndrome International Swimming Organisation|author=Emily Laurence|access-date=March 2, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/paralympics-calls-down-syndrome-category-28545992|title=Paralympics faces calls for Down's syndrome category to ensure level playing field|publisher=Mirror|author=Liam Llewellyn|date=November 21, 2022|access-date=March 2, 2024}}</ref>