This article was written by a Black Kooth mental health writer, Cynthia. It contains mentions of the following themes: swimming, clubs, and community.

This article contains personal experiences and opinions. They might not reflect everyone’s thoughts or experiences, and that’s okay! As this is such an important topic, we wanted to share something for people to think about and reflect on. Some of these experiences may feel familiar and validating to you, and others may just be a new perspective, from someone else’s unique point of view, for you to think about. We’d love to know what you think in the comments below.

The science of swimming

For those of us who love to swim, we know that it offers multiple benefits to our wellbeing. This is backed up by science, as research indicates that just 30 minutes of exercise can lower depression and anxiety and improve sleep patterns. This is due to a release of endorphins, the natural feel-good hormones, that lead us to experience a greater sense of happiness and wellbeing.

However, according to Sport England, 95% of Black adults and 80% of Black children in England do not swim. And, according to the World Health Organisation, the risk of drowning is significantly higher amongst minority ethnic communities.

Swimming in the UK African-Caribbean community

The reasons for this are multi-faceted, spanning a lack of access, inherited cultural belief, and a lack of confidence. In my own community, the African-Caribbean community, many families don’t necessarily prioritise swimming. Neither of my parents know how to swim, despite coming from Ghana on the western coast of Africa. So, once they emigrated to the UK in the 1970s, swimming was just not something that was mentioned in my house growing up.

As children, neither I nor my siblings ever swam in the sea or went to the pool. And, despite having lessons in primary school, the idea of the pool just wasn’t discussed as a fun activity at home, let alone considered as a place to learn an important, life-saving skill.

The impact of costs and equipment

Financially, swimming equipment and gear can be costly to purchase, which undoubtedly adds to the situation. The basic items required may run from a costume, pool shoes, goggles, and contact lens through to the all-important swimming cap.

Swimming caps are a key feature of swimming whilst Black, as chlorine can seriously damage natural Afro hair. Sadly, the market is only just catching up with the need for hats that can accommodate a variety of natural Afro hairstyles, such as braids and dreadlocks.

Thankfully, there are Black athletes currently vying to make change in this area.

You may recall that a brand that makes inclusive caps for Afro-haired swimmers was banned from usage at the recent Tokyo Olympics by FINA (the International Swimming Federation). Alice Dearing, one of Great Britain’s top female marathon swimmers and the only Black swimmer on Team GB, submitted the cap for approval.

The response was wholeheartedly disappointing, with FINA stating that “the athletes competing at the international events never used, neither require to use, caps of such size and configuration” and that the cap in question didn’t “follow the natural form of the head”.

This language, and the use of the word “natural” in particular, led many to condemn what they felt were racist sentiments perpetuating the idea that swimming is not for those from the Black community. However, after significant criticism, there may be updates forthcoming on this decision; in July 2021, FINA stated that this decision was “under review” for future Games.

As well as pushing for inclusive swimwear, Dearing is also the co-founder of the 2021 Black Swim Association and an advocate for diversity in aquatics.

Social swimming clubs

Alongside, new social swim groups, such as London-based Swim Dem Crew, are looking to challenge the idea that “Black people don’t swim”.

I had the pleasure of attending my first swim gathering with the Swim Dem Crew this Autumn. On a chilly Saturday in November, I waited patiently at the gates of London Fields Lido in London’s East End, nervous and excited to see a group of swimmers who, for once, looked like me.

It was both sad and heartening to hear that some people had travelled from places such as Brighton and Woking just to experience this more inclusive environment. I, myself, was delighted to meet a group of people just as excited as I was about getting in the pool, waking up my muscles, practicing new techniques and, above all, enjoying whole lengths transported into a state of calm meditation.

Once warm hellos were exchanged, we all headed into the pool with an inclusive sense of community for a brilliant social swim, followed by a well-deserved lunch at a local café.

Ways to start your swimming journey

If you are interested in seeing if swimming is for you, I recommend visiting your local pool or leisure centre to see if they have beginner swim sessions. This is how I started my journey, as it helped me to build my confidence in the pool, become familiar with pool layout and etiquette, as well as meet others at the same level as me.

Then, depending on your desire, there are aqua aerobics, diving, synchronised swimming, swimming for fitness/lane swimming, lido swimming, and a whole host of Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeguarded beaches up and down the UK.

Not only can swimming be a crucial life skill, but it can also be a true pleasure – one that we should all feel able to enjoy if we want to.