Why are there so few black people in swimming?

Question

There are very few blacks in my sport. Some say that it is physiology (high muscule mass, low body fat, ...). Others say that it has to do with opportunities, because blacks are supposedly poorer,with less access to good coaching and pools. I don't like either answer. I think that there are plenty of black Americans, Europeans, and South Africans who have access to pools and coaching. While most black people that I have seen in public pools have terrible swimming technique, I know of, and have known, a few really good black swimmers, eg Malia Metella (French olympian). Some say that they are exceptions. I am wondering if relexibility is an issue - you need shoulder flexibility to be good at swimming, although I've seen one incredible black yogi on Venice Beach. Perhaps swimming has simply never seemed "cool" to the various black subcultures distributed around the planet.
Can I hope to see more racial diversity in my sport ?
Thanks!

Answer 1

I think there are a number of reason why you don't see many Blacks in pro-swimming.

one is one of the reason you don't like...being poor and not having as much access to pools, coaches, etc. But I this is a minor factor because access to pools isn't that much of an issue any more. though the coaches still might be.

another is some what circular. Not many Black kids think about going into swimming because they don't see other Blacks into swimming.

You see lots of black people in sports like football and basketball. And because of that kids are more likely to want to play those sports to be like the people they see.

If Swimming gets it's Tiger Woods or William sisters and you will see some up tick of Black kids wanting to be pro-swimmers.

in fact I think you might see a bigger up tick then golf or tennis did because unlike those two sports, swimming doesn't have as big of an uncool tag to it. Black people swim for fun all the time, doing it as a sport and not just for fun is the issue.


I am sure you will some day see more diversity in swimming but if you want to make sure you do, have you ever thought about working with or starting a program that will get more Blacks into swimming. maybe you can coach black youth in swimming some where.

Answer 2

It all comes down to personal interest. Some black people like golf, tennis, chess, skateboarding,wrestling, speed skating or whatever other sport they like. I'm black I can swim but have no interest in swimming competitively. I'm from Detroit went to all black high school well there was a hand full of other races yet the swim team was all black and had to travel a couple of miles to practice at another schools pool so if people want to do it they will do it if its cool or not.

Answer 3

I'm not sure how much valuable input I can provide but I thank you for posing this question. I am black and I have been swimming for most of my life.
Though resources may be available I'm not certain if everyone recognizes their presensce. Also, I do not believe that race has an impact on flexibility, from personal experience.

Answer 4

As a black person, I can only give you what has been my childhood experience. I believe a good deal of black children are brought up in the same circumstances.

My family was very poor when I was growing up. When you think of swimming, common sense says you need a swimming pool (or other body of water) to do that. If your desire is to be a competitive swimmer, you first need to have someone take notice of your talent, then secure a coach or instructor. When your family barely has enough money to keep a roof over your head and food on the table, swimming and swim coaches seems to be a very distant thing.

I don't think it has anything to do with whether black people view swimming as being "cool" or not. I think it just boils down to opportunity and the accessibility of a pool in which to practice and train, should the opportunity take place.

Even as an adult, after I have been able to achieve enormous economic advances, when I think of swimming pool, the first word I think of is "wealthy".

DARKMASTER and White Master KKK (give me an f-ing break!) - your answers were totally IGNORANT, stereotyping and racist! You're the kind of useless crap on this site that gives people who use their brain a bad name.

Answer 5

Might be a matter of perception. Some sports are not perceived as being cool, or big money, or receptive to minorities. Where was golf before Tiger Woods? Where was tennis before Serena and Venus? Someone needs to be a leader in swimming to "break ground" for the rest.

Answer 6

I am white and love to swim. With that being said my first confrontation with a black was in a pool. I was about 5 years old at a public pool. All of the sudden someone grabbed my foot and almost drowned me. I kicked them loose and got grabbed again. I looked to see who kept grabbing me it was a black boy that was about 8 or 9 years old. I told him to leave me alone. I guess he thought that was racism and pulled a pocket knife out of his pocket of his shorts and got about 2 inches from my foot with the knife. I kicked him and my mother walked with me over to his mother to let her know what he had done. His mother's response was "He's just a little boy Noone was hurt" my mother then cursed her and told her that it was a good thing that I didn't get cut because if I had been she would beat her @ss all over town!

Answer 7

i swim sometimes. but i dont think its a fun sport--i just use it as relaxation i guess. as far as joining in swim competitions, umm....not 4 me.

Answer 8

well, I don't know if this is the main reason or not,
but black skin is more dry than white skin,
you will notice that many black people use a lot of lotions,
and most pools are treated with chlorine ( bleach) which is hard on skin and hair.
and to mention it, black people have more brittle hair,

so the water would be hard on you skin and hair.
now, growing up, you wouldn't really want to do something that would cause you to look bad, or make your skin and hair harder to control.

as I said, this is a guess only,
but I sure wouldn't engage in a sport that did that to my skin.

I'm fair skinned, and burn easily, I don't engage in water sports where I would sure to get burned, and I enjoy swimming inside!

I wouldn't playan outside sport all the time for the same reason,
its not worth it to be burned for a game....

Answer 9

I'm not sure if deeming this question as ignorant is fair.

If you want to see more racial diversity in your sport - start campaigning for more black participants - start a huge recruiting effort and dedicate all of your time to this effort instead of swimming!

Answer 10

Once again I can't stand people who generalize!