Last summer, the Red Cross pulled its negative swimming posters. Has it done anything to change disparate drowning statistics in the African American community? Black Kids Swim, a Maryland based non-profit organization, works to diversify the sport of competitive swimming by increasing access to swim instruction and...
This summer Black Kids Swim, a Maryland based non-profit organization, has partnered with Bounce TV and the YMCA to encourage more Black children learn the life saving skill of swimming. According to the USA Swimming Foundation, 70% of African Americans do not know how to swim. And according...
Parents on deck during a swim meet is normal, but parents in the pool is a rare occurrence. Marvin Thorpe, coach and owner of the 4MSC competitive swim team and learn-to-swim school, believes that parents should learn first hand how rewarding (and demanding) the sport can be. He...
If you're wondering who is dominating the world of swimming, you can stop. Simone Manuel is breaking records all over the place, and she's just getting started. More importantly, she is blazing a trail for many young Black swimmers who want to be just like...
Robert Mangan is a successful African-American swimmer who swims for Ithica High School's Ithica Little Reds. His swim coach told him about Black Kids Swim and he immediately reached out to us to say "Thank you for sharing the site with the public and supporting African-American...
As a swim mom I spend most of my pool time in the stands or on deck – I rarely get in the pool. And I don't think I'm alone in this. I've met a surprising number of swim parents, especially in the Black community,...
We want to see more Black swimmers. We want more Black people to have the life-saving skill of swimming, and to have access to the educational and professional opportunities available through competitive swimming. We believe that if we can grow the Black Kids Swim community we...
[caption id="attachment_1830" align="alignleft" width="300"] Maritza regularly conducts clinics for young swimmers through Swim 1922[/caption] Maritza (Correia) McClendon, in 2004, was the first Puerto Rican of African American descent to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic swim team and win a silver medal. As part of...
[caption id="attachment_1781" align="alignleft" width="300"] Eden Smith (Left) and Jasmine Barry (Right)[/caption] Before Olympic Trials, swimmers work for years to develop their technique, build strength and drop times. Typically, young swimmers begin this journey in summer swim leagues and year round swim clubs. For the 5th day...
Natalie Hinds, from Midland, Texas, swims for the University of Florida Gators and is a multi-time All-American sprinter with over 15 All-America honors. She recently swam in the U.S. Olympic trials in 3 of her favorite events; 50 free, 100 free and the 100 butterfly....
[caption id="attachment_1769" align="alignleft" width="300"] Cason Wilburn and his father at the National Black Heritage Championship Swim meet in 2016. Cason was the high point earner in his age group.[/caption] The 2016 Olympics are already making history. This year three African Americans have earned spots on the...
We are less than two weeks away from the swimming events of the 2016 Olympics in Rio. This year three African Americans have earned spots on the U.S. Olypmic swim team; and for the first time in history there are two African American women on the...
