British Paralympic gold medallist Alice Tai has been banned from swimming in a County Championships final – because she is disabled.
The 19-year-old, who won a relay gold in the women’s 4x100m medley at Rio 2016, got through the heats against able-bodied swimmers in the 50m and 100m backstroke at the Middlesex Youth County Championships.
However, she was then told she wouldn’t be able to swim in the finals.
“It was incredibly frustrating as I was allowed to compete in the heats and my time qualified me for a place in the final,” Tai told her local newspaper in Southampton, the Southern Daily Echo.
According to British swimming regulations, para athletes can swim in heats but have to be entered separately in finals. Tai, who has a club foot, was therefore barred from the event.
“I wish they had told me beforehand because it feels a bit hypocritical to let me swim in the heats but not the final,” Tai said.
Banning Tai from competing in the finals has been described as ‘disability discrimination’. Swim England says it will urgently clarify its rules.
“We are aware of the situation at the recent 2019 Middlesex Youth County Championships and are in contact with the local organisers and the athlete concerned.
Martin Lees, Swim England’s para-swimming development manager said.
“Unfortunately, this situation arose due to the way the conditions of the event had been communicated. It was in no way intended to offend anyone.
“As the national governing body for swimming, we are committed to ensuring all swimmers are able to take part in every level of competition. We will be encouraging organisers of events across the country to review their event conditions as a matter of urgency to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
Tai posted on Twitter her feelings about being only allowed to swim in the heats, saying: “I only want the opportunity to race swimmers of similar speed to me…So mad.”
Highly respected swimming coach Graham Wardell responded to Tai’s Tweet, describing the situation as “disgraceful”.
“Surely disability discrimination is morally indefensible?” Wardell wrote.
“If you have the ‘able bodied’ entry qualification time then you should be allowed to swim the final.
“Disgraceful way to carry on, sounds like the meet is swum to satisfy rules and not in the best interest of the athletes.”
