Joe Artis is the father of 3 young ladies aged 21, 18 and 13. Joe learned to swim as a child and passed his love of the sport to his children. His two oldest swam through high school and the youngest is still swimming. We...
Reece Whitley is 15 years old and 6 feet 8 inches tall. At the age of 14 he qualified to participate in the upcoming Olympic Trials. Not only does he stand out in a crowd, he is breaking records with his 100 and 200 meter...
[caption id="attachment_1147" align="alignleft" width="164"] Sydney[/caption] Sydney currently swims for Sylvania Tsunami Swim Club in Ohio under the guidance of Coach Kris Moellenberg. It's a 100+ member club where Sydney is the only African-American swimmer. Sydney started competitively swimming in the summer of 2015 for her local neighborhood club;...
Kids, especially teenagers, seem to be constantly hungry. Experienced swim parents (read swim taxis!) know to keep a stash of snacks and juices in the car to avoid the daily complaints of "I'm starving!" So, what should we feed our swimmers to ensure they are...
Jarvis DeBerry of NOLA.com highlights historical events in Louisiana and Mississippi that contributed to African Americans having a fear of the water or simply not learning how to swim. In the 1930s and 1940s black swimmers were not allowed to swim in many public pools and...
Alia Atkinson,the first black woman to hold a swimming world title, holds the world record for women in the 100m breast stroke. In this article by Sports360 she discusses her family's move to the USA, advice from Usain Bolt, and the increased interest in swimming for...
Jamaican swimmer, Alia Atkinson, hopes to win the first medal in an Olympic swimming event for her country. She praises Usain Bolt as a mentor and leader in Jamaican sports. Full article by The New Paper here....
The Walton Street Pool in Asheville North Carolina is located in a predominantly African American neighborhood. Due to high repair costs, low revenues, and gentrification the pool may be closed. This article discusses how historically limited access to swimming can effect how public resources are allocated...
Olympic Silver medalist Maritza McClendon reflects on the negative impacts of parental pressure on her swim career. She also discusses the community service partnership 'Swim 1922' which seeks to prevent drowning among minorities in the USA. Article by the Atlanta Journal Constitution here. ...
Darryl and Francina Jackson are the swim parents of Christian and Cade Jackson. Both Christian and Cade swim with Theresa Banks Swim Club during the summer and NCAP during the school year. Darryl and Francina are regulars at the pool - cheering for their sons and bonding with other...
Bruce Johnson is a cosmetologist and the owner of Avatar Salon and Wellness Spa in Silver Spring Maryland. Black Kids Swim previously interviewed Bruce about the dangers of chlorine. His advice was so appreciated we decided to bring him back! Below, Bruce continues providing excellent...
Coach Elvin Foreman is the Head Coach Elite Rays Swim Club and the Head Coach of the Fort Washington Sharks. Coach Foreman was our daughter's first swim coach in the U.S. after living overseas for 2 years. He and his assistant coaches guided our family through the, sometimes intimidating,...
