Aquatics Because of the wide array of swimming events offered, aquatics is appropriate for a range of ages and ability levels. Aquatics competition events are based on a variety of strokes. Special Olympics also offers events for lower ability level athletes to train and compete in basic aquatics skills. The development of these key skills is necessary prior to advancing to longer competitive events. The start of a 50 Meter Freestyle heat at the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games, Dublin, Ireland. [Photo by Adrian Melia, IRELAND OUT] Special Olympics athletes also can participate in Special Olympics Unified Sports® aquatics relay events. Unified Sports is a program that combines Special Olympics athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities (partners) on sports teams for training and competition. In Unified Sports Aquatics, a relay team would consist of two Special Olympics athletes and two partners. As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to ability level, age and gender. Aquatics Facts Aquatics was an event at the first Special Olympics International Games held in Chicago, Illinois, USA in 1968. At the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games held in Dublin, Ireland, 573 athletes representing 97 Special Olympics Programs competed in aquatics. As of the 2005 Special Olympics Athlete Participation Report, 159,100 Special Olympics athletes compete in aquatics. Aquatics Events Freestyle Events: 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1,500 Meter Backstroke, Breaststroke and Butterfly Events: 25 Meter (Breaststroke, Butterfly), 50, 100, and 200 Meter Individual Medley Events: 200 and 400 Meter Freestyle and Medley Relay Events: 4 x 25, 4 x 50 and 4 x 100 Meter 4 x 200 Meter Freestyle Relay Unified Sports Relay Events: Freestyle: 4 x 100 and 4 x 200 Meter Medley: 4 x 25, 4 x 50 and 4 x 100 Meter The following aquatics events provide meaningful competition for athletes with lower ability levels: 25 Meter Freestyle and Backstroke 15 Meter Walk 15 and 25 Meter Floatation Race 10 Meter Assisted Swim 15 Meter Unassisted Swim Related Links Fédération Internationale de Natacion Amateur (FINA)