When I saw that the International Swimming Federation (FINA) had barred a brand of inclusive swim caps for Black swimmers last week I was speechless.
SOUL CAP wasn’t approved to be worn at the Olympics this summer on the grounds that to the governing body’s ‘best knowledge, the athletes competing at the International events never used, neither require to use, caps of such size and configuration’.
As a swimmer with Afro hair, it’s just another thing that subtly tells people like me that the sport is not for us – and that’s unacceptable.
I’ve been swimming since the age of three after my godfather took me to the local pool. I absolutely loved it, even though my mum’s since told me that I cried the whole time.
I guess that was my way of showing my excitement though because, for the next 10 years, I went swimming once a week without fail – often shocking my swimming teachers and then coaches with how well I could swim.
Even when I was eight or nine, my aunt took me to the boundary line of the ocean in Ayia Napa in Cyprus and the waves were no joke, but I loved it.
However, with those great memories comes the recollection of my struggles of getting the swimming cap over my head and going through at least three of them a month because they’d break being unable to handle the volume of my hair. That’s all before I got to the trouble and lengthy process of washing the chlorine out of my hair.
For a lot of Black people – including myself – our hair is part of our identity, and it seems to me that FINA’s decision to not protect it reinforces that they want Black people for their talent and the medals they win, but they don’t want the athletes themselves.
In the 1960s in the US, white people would pour acid into the pools where Black people would swim
For this governing body to say that the inclusive swim cap brand is unsuitable due to it not ‘following the natural form of the head’, what they’re implying is that swimming is not a sport for Black people because your head shape is not ‘natural’ – meaning you’re not white.
Their decision stifles swimming’s ability to expand beyond the perception that it is only for white people as it engages in systemic and scientific racism instead of acknowledging the growing diversity of competitive swimmers. People like Simone Manuel, the first African-American woman to win an individual Olympic gold in swimming and set an Olympic and American record or Alice Dearing, the first Black woman to represent Team GB in Olympic swimming.
In my view, FINA’s failed to acknowledge that ethnic minorities have different needs. We have seen this in other areas such as healthcare with how Black women in the UK are much more likely to die from complications surrounding pregnancy and childbirth than white women.
FINA’s decision is sadly not much of a surprise to me but I fear it will only exacerbate the fact that 95% of Black adults do not swim at all and in the US, Black people accidentally drown at over five times the rate of white people.
The idea that swimming is not a sport for Black people is not new. In the 1960s in the US, white people would pour acid into the pools where Black people would swim.
Black people were also told they could not swim because their bones were too heavy, and even though that has now been proven false, FINA seems like it wants to continue the historical racism in swimming by leaving us with little option other than having us shave off our hair – part of our identity – so that we can use ‘standard’ swimming caps and call that inclusivity.
Thankfully, my mum never gave into the myth that Black people couldn’t swim and so even though she herself couldn’t, she made sure I could.
It’s only in the last two years after speaking to multiple family members and hearing their fears of the water that I’ve realised my ability as a strong swimmer is an anomaly within the Black community. It’s so sad because swimming is such a relaxing activity and a skill I feel everyone should learn.
It never really sunk in for me that the reason my aunt and I were the only two people in my family that could swim was because even though my grandparents grew up in Jamaica – an island with the most beautiful oceans – they were part of the generations told to fear the water.
Why should we have to restrict ourselves to certain sports when there are so many others that we could enjoy?
A lot of Black people’s decision not to swim nowadays comes down to hair care, including myself. As I’ve grown older, my relationship with swimming has become a lot more strained because I don’t want to get my hair wet.
I do not want to have to deal with the pain of getting a swimming cap on my head, only for it to burst 10 minutes later. So the fact that someone has created a swim cap specifically for Black people’s hair is like music to my ears and definitely something I will be purchasing for the next time I go swimming.
However, to hear an official body banning this product because its shape doesn’t align with what it considers to be ‘natural’ is astonishing.
Young Black swimmers will look at FINA’s decision and instead of seeing themselves in the sport, they will see another barrier. This will probably mean they will start to believe the tale constantly told to Black people that we should stick to basketball or athletics, which are stereotypically seen to be ‘Black sports’.
But why should we have to restrict ourselves to certain sports when there are so many others that we could enjoy?
FINA should know that everyone needs hair protection regardless of their race – accommodations should be made for that.
I would like to see them consider the different requirements non-white competitive swimmers may have. They don’t, in any way, give them an advantage but actually just allows them to reach the same starting point as their white counterparts.
Black people should not be forced to choose between the sport they love and their hair. Swimming should be for everyone, no matter their size, age or ethnicity.
Metro.co.uk has contacted FINA directly for comment and will update this article if we receive a response.
On 2nd July FINA issued this media statement: ‘FINA acknowledges the comments and reactions concerning the use of “Soul Cap” swim caps in FINA competition.
‘FINA is committed to ensuring that all aquatics athletes have access to appropriate swimwear for competition where this swimwear does not confer a competitive advantage. FINA is currently reviewing the situation with regards to “Soul Cap” and similar products, understanding the importance of inclusivity and representation.
‘There is no restriction on “Soul Cap” swim caps for recreational and teaching purposes. FINA appreciates the efforts of “Soul Cap” and other suppliers to ensure everyone has the chance to enjoy the water. FINA will also speak with the manufacturer of the “Soul Cap” about utilising their products through the FINA Development Centres.
‘FINA expects to make its consideration of “Soul Cap” and similar products part of wider initiatives aimed at ensuring there are no barriers to participation in swimming, which is both a sport and a vital life skill.‘
Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk.
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