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Australia’s first international Para-swimming classifier in a decade and a half says she feels proud that her work will make a positive impact on the lives of athletes domestically and beyond.
Hannah Watkins, who has a background in human movement, health and education, received her accreditation from World Para Swimming earlier this year and will travel to Chile in November for her first international assignment.
Her appointment as an international classifier – assessing athletes to determine their eligibility to compete in Para-sport and how they are grouped together for fair competition – is a major boost for Australian swimming. It is expected to bring the national system more closely aligned with the global Classification Code and World Para Swimming classification rules and regulations, strengthening the pathway for swimmers aiming to compete at the highest level.
“Having an international classifier in Australia will help avoid the situation where swimmers think they’re going to make teams because they get the times, but then their classification changes at an international level,” Watkins said.
“It can help us make our national classification system a bit more aligned with the international system so that people aren’t surprised with their [international] classification.”
Watkins said the difference between being a national classifier and an international classifier was the impact you can have on athletes’ lives “on a world stage”.
“There’s so much more at stake. Athletes are putting their careers in our hands at an international level, whereas at a national level it’s more grassroots. It’s getting them into the system.
“I would say that would be the major difference is that I can classify athletes that are going to the Paralympic Games.”
“[Whether it’s national or international classifiers], I know that the swimmers are thankful that we put our volunteering hat on and go out there and support them to be able to achieve their dreams.”
Paralympics Australia’s General Manager of Classification, Melissa Wilson, said: “It is absolutely fantastic to once again have an Australian international classifier for Para-swimming.
“Swimming is one of our strongest Para-sports so to have an internationally qualified classifier supporting the Australian system is vital for strengthening the accuracy and integrity of classification throughout the pathway.
“Hannah’s appointment is part of a new wave of national and international classifier training activities under an expanded Australian National Classification Program being led by Paralympics Australia and supported by the HP 2032+ Para System Uplift. On behalf of Paralympics Australia, I congratulate Hannah and Swimming Australia on this wonderful achievement.”
Watkins, who is a swimming coach and works as the head of sport at Scotch College in Adelaide, said becoming a classifier was something she hadn’t thought of but, when she found out more, she discovered it fit with her desire to “give back and try to make things better for people”.
Watkins did the national level training and, in 2023, did the international level training course, which was signed off a couple of months ago. She said the reality of attaining the qualification took time to sink in.
“I just feel incredibly proud to make a difference, not just on pool deck, but I know I’m probably changing lives of athletes. It’s really rewarding to play this part in the whole process.”
More information about classification – https://www.paralympic.org.au/classification/
By Dave Sygall, Paralympics Australia.
Published 4 July, 2025.
