An issue that had been largely ignored until then, except for those directly involved, arose at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. Do people with afro hair need a different swimming cap? The answer from Michael Chapman and Tox Ahmed-Saloudin, the founders of Soul Cap, and many blacks is “Yes.” “We need the space and volume that headphones like the Soul Caps allow,” explained Danielle Obe, founder of the Black Swimming Association, but the International Swimming Federation (FINA) is not of the same opinion. At the last Olympics, black swimmers were banned from wearing caps designed for their hair because they didn’t fit “the natural shape of the head.” This absurd motivation has sparked discussion, word of mouth has begun, and now the twist has finally arrived: From now on, FINA will allow black athletes to wear earmuffs suitable for Afro hair in competitions, including the Olympics.

“All we ask is,” Obe al explained. The newspaper “New York Times, “has the ability to acquire the right equipment to solve our hair problem, which is an important barrier to youth participation in water sports competitions.” According to Sport England statistics, a quarter of black children drop out of elementary school without knowing how to swim, 95% of black adults and 80% of black children cannot swim: a real gap in access to this sport that increases the risk of drowning. According to the founders of Soul Cap, the lack of appropriate sportswear is one of the reasons that historically prevented blacks from swimming. Swimming caps found in stores are very tight and don’t have enough room for afro hair, which often causes damage or discomfort and makes children feel inadequate.

Now the FINA decision recognizes the problem as concrete and worthy of respect. a first step towards rethinking access to swimming and how racist stereotypes still influence the rules of competitive sports. “This achievement plays a huge role in our broader mission to increase participation in sport,” commented Michael Chapman and Tox Ahmed-Saloudin. “However, there is still tremendous progress to be made in diversity in the water,” they added, “some of the barriers to overcome include the cost of the sport of swimming, lack of teaching to swim in schools, pool closures, and cultural stereotypes.” for example, the idea that “blacks don’t swim”.