#competitive swimming

okayysophia:

amelmajrii:

Swimming caps for natural black hair ruled out of Olympic Games

Swimming caps designed for natural black hair created by a black-owned brand will not be allowed at the Olympics.

The hats, made by Soul Cap, which previously partnered with Alice Dearing, who last week qualified to become the first black female swimmer to represent Team GB at the Olympics, have been rejected by the International Swimming Federation (Fina).

The body said the caps did not fit “the natural form of the head” and to their “best knowledge the athletes competing at the international events never used, neither require … caps of such size and configuration”.

Nah they’re really doing to much now. The Olympics are deliberately targeting black women….

This is some straight up BULLSHIT.

It’s rare that this comes up on my (mostly) costume focused tumblr, but I used to swim competitively. Seriously competitively. As in nationals, swimming against adults as a teenager, one-time Olympic hopeful competitively. I also used to coach kids (this will be relevant later)

There are certain kinds of suits and equipment that are banned from use due to a competitive edge. As many people have mentioned in the comments, the LZR suits are a prime example. But those were permitted until there was a body of evidence PROVING they offered unfair advantages. There isa) No evidence the Soul Caps provide any advantage,andb) No way they will be able to find any, unless they’re made of fancy hydrophobic materials (to my knowledge they aren’t)

I am pretty certain of this, for a variety of reasons, but the short version is that what makes these caps unique is increased volume. This is the opposite of an advantage. Additional volume creates additional drag. They just aren’t very hydrodynamic.

Frankly, I don’t think most Olympic level athletes would be willing to race in the larger sizes of Soul Cap even if they were permitted. At that level even the smallest amount of drag can be the difference between 1st and 4th. Like there’s a reason even male swimmers shave their entire bodies. Hair is not your friend. An Olympic swimmer has already sacrificed a LOT to get where they are, and while it’s still a shitty, racist rule, I don’t think many of them would hesitate to shave their heads if that’s what it took.

What I AM worried about is the repercussions this will have on the sport as a whole. Because FINA is the governing body that all others look to when establishing their own rules. I still remember the LZR ban being passed, and the various other national and provincial/state organizations promptly following suit. And THAT impacts the black kids and teens who are only starting out in competitive swimming. Kids who are just there to try their best and have fun. This is putting even more barriers in place on what’s already a SUPER white sport. This decision is going to have ripples down to the most entry level competitive swimming.

TL:DR This is actually way bigger than just the Olympics, and while we should be mad on behalf of the pros, we should be even more mad on behalf of all the black kids who will be pushed out of activities open to their white peers.

people who kindly let you pass them during practice are sexy

competitive swimming au where you don’t get beat up at meet warm up

DEAR SWIMBLR, WILL ANYONE BE AT CENTRAL ZONES NEXT WEEKEND??? I WANNA MEET FELLOW SWIMBLRS IF YOU WILL BE THERE

Current mood? I had my old white male swim coach telling me that I need to smile more for an entire two hour long practice, so how do you think???

Alright so who on swimblr wants to buy me some more triswim conditioner??