Swimmers of African Descent Maritza Correia, 2004 Olympic silver medalist Since this presentation several Swimmers have added their names to the rich history of swimmers of African Descent. If you are interested in a fun project contact me at It needs to be updated. Are the Best African American Swimmers Playing Basketball? Eric H. Shanks, MPA

Are the best Swimmers of African Descent Playing Basketball? Tim Duncan - NBA MVP Started playing Basketball only after his swim team pool was destroyed by hurricane Hugo. Tim Duncan - NBA MVP Started playing Basketball only after his swim team pool was destroyed by hurricane Hugo. Kimani Ffriend - Former Husker Basketball player from Kingston, Jamaica discovered basketball after competitive swimming. Kimani Ffriend - Former Husker Basketball player from Kingston, Jamaica discovered basketball after competitive swimming.

A Brief History The International swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) has a list of 85 significant events in swimming history… Number 3 on the list reads: "An African slave, shipwrecked off Martinique in 1679, swims in a storm and finally reaches land after swimming for sixty hours.

The First Gold Medal Number 66 on the ISHOF list reads: Anthony Nesty of Surinam becomes the first swimmer of African descent to win an Olympic Gold Medal when he wins the 100 meter butterfly at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

The First English Channel Crossing

Victor Malwa, age 27 Zambia August 28, 2005 Zambian swimmer Victor Malwa swam across the English Channel. August 28, 2005 Zambian swimmer Victor Malwa swam across the English Channel. Malwa is the first African to complete the feat. Malwa is the first African to complete the feat. He swam across the channel in just over 13 hours. He swam across the channel in just over 13 hours. The Swim will go into the Guinness Book of World Records as the first crossing by a Swimmer of African Descent The Swim will go into the Guinness Book of World Records as the first crossing by a Swimmer of African Descent

Competing on the World Stage Although no African American qualified for the Olympic Trials before 1964, the prominence of Swimmers of African descent has steadily increased on the international stage. Although no African American qualified for the Olympic Trials before 1964, the prominence of Swimmers of African descent has steadily increased on the international stage. There are at least seventeen elite swimmers of African descent who have competed internationally since There are at least seventeen elite swimmers of African descent who have competed internationally since By 2000 there were at least a half-dozen swimmers of African descent at the US Olympic Trials. By 2000 there were at least a half-dozen swimmers of African descent at the US Olympic Trials. Most of them have won gold medals in the Olympics, Olympic trials, NCAA Championships, or the World University Games. Most of them have won gold medals in the Olympics, Olympic trials, NCAA Championships, or the World University Games. All of them competed on NCAA Division I teams. All of them competed on NCAA Division I teams.

Elite Swimmer of African Descent Byron Davis - 12 Time All-American. Former World Record Holder. Top 4 all-time Byron Davis - 12 Time All-American. Former World Record Holder. Top 4 all-time

Elite Swimmers of African Descent Tyler Paige – USAF Academy. Holds Colorado records 11-12, & Resides in Omaha, NE. Tyler Paige – USAF Academy. Holds Colorado records 11-12, & Resides in Omaha, NE. John Ebido – University of Nebraska. Swam in the 1984 Olympics for Nigeria. Resides in Lincoln, NE. where he Coaches Age Group. John Ebido – University of Nebraska. Swam in the 1984 Olympics for Nigeria. Resides in Lincoln, NE. where he Coaches Age Group. Bryan Butts – 3-Time Nebraska State High School Champion. Top 20 all-time Bryan Butts – 3-Time Nebraska State High School Champion. Top 20 all-time Anthony Nesty – U. of FL. First Olympic Gold Medal by a swimmer of African descent Anthony Nesty – U. of FL. First Olympic Gold Medal by a swimmer of African descent Anthony Ervine – U. of CA. Won the Gold Medal at Sidney (2000). Top 25 all-time Anthony Ervine – U. of CA. Won the Gold Medal at Sidney (2000). Top 25 all-time Sabir Muhammed – Now Retired. Former World Record Holder. Sabir Muhammed – Now Retired. Former World Record Holder. Darryl Washington – Pitt Univ Big East Freestyle Champion. Darryl Washington – Pitt Univ Big East Freestyle Champion. Michael Norment – U. of GA Olympic Trials. Michael Norment – U. of GA Olympic Trials. Niesser Bent – Cuba and 2000 Olympics. Gold Medal World University Games. Niesser Bent – Cuba and 2000 Olympics. Gold Medal World University Games.

Elite Swimmers of African Descent Cullen Jones - Member World Championship team. World University Games record. Gold Medalist 4x100 Free Relay 2008 US Olympic Team. Cullen Jones - Member World Championship team. World University Games record. Gold Medalist 4x100 Free Relay 2008 US Olympic Team. Brielle White - University of Virginia finished fourth in 100 backstroke at 2004 Olympic Trials. Brielle White - University of Virginia finished fourth in 100 backstroke at 2004 Olympic Trials. Keiko Price – UCLA. Olympic hopeful. NCAA All American. Keiko Price – UCLA. Olympic hopeful. NCAA All American. Alison Terry – UC Davis. Gold Medalist World Univ. Games Olympic Trials. Alison Terry – UC Davis. Gold Medalist World Univ. Games Olympic Trials. Leah Martindale – U. of FL and 200 Olympics (Barbados) Leah Martindale – U. of FL and 200 Olympics (Barbados) Maritza Correia Olympic silver medalist. World University Games champion. Maritza Correia Olympic silver medalist. World University Games champion. Haley McGregory - University of Texas. Born in England, now a U.S. citizen. Haley McGregory - University of Texas. Born in England, now a U.S. citizen. Tanica Jamison - University of Texas graduate and two time national champion. Tanica Jamison - University of Texas graduate and two time national champion.

Comparing Participation Rates USA Swimming clubs, YMCA clubs & NCAA Teams Participation of African American Swimmers seems to increase at the college level. Participation of African American Swimmers seems to increase at the college level. USA Swimming has the lowest African American Participation of the three competitive swimming organizations. USA Swimming has the lowest African American Participation of the three competitive swimming organizations. There appear to be nearly 2 YMCA African American Swimmers for every 100 White Swimmers. There appear to be nearly 2 YMCA African American Swimmers for every 100 White Swimmers. The YMCA has a higher frequency of African American Participation than USA Swimming. The YMCA has a higher frequency of African American Participation than USA Swimming. Swimming is not the least frequented sport of African American college athletes. Swimming is not the least frequented sport of African American college athletes.

USA Swimming Outreach Program In 2004 USA Swimming adopted an Outreach Membership program that offers discount national memberships to underrepresented and economically disadvantaged youth in the United States. But, it is still up to local swimming organizations to assist Outreach members with club dues and swim meet registration fees.

African American Participation USA Swimming Membership In 2004 African American members were.5% females, and.4% of males. Of 232,361 members 2,020 (or.87%) were African American.

Greensboro, NC County YMCA

Counting Heads at the YMCA A non-scientific manual count and estimate of African American swimmers in YMCA swim team photographs suggests that combined African American male/female participation is about 1.8 %.

African American Participation USA Swimming versus YMCA Swimming When comparing African American combined Male/Female participation the YMCA Swimming is double that of USA Swimming.

NCAA Participation Rates African American Swimmers NCAA Statistics show that when compared to White participation, the participation rates of African Americans nearly doubles when swimmers reach the collegiate level. Source: NCAA Ethnicity Report

USA Swimming and NCAA Participation USA Swimming reports a total 2004 Membership of nearly 250,000. USA Swimming reports a total 2004 Membership of nearly 250,000. NCAA Swimming reports a total 2004 participation of 300,000. NCAA Swimming reports a total 2004 participation of 300,000.

Why the Increase at the College Level? Are African Americans more likely to swim in college? Are African Americans more likely to swim in college? Why are African American Women more likely to swim in college? Why are African American Women more likely to swim in college? What other collegiate sports outrank swimming in African American participation? What other collegiate sports outrank swimming in African American participation?

Other NCAA Sports in 2004 Outranking Swimming African American Males Swimming 110 Lacrosse136 Lacrosse136 Golf 166 Wrestling352 Wrestling352 Tennis384 Tennis384 Cross Country1,233 Soccer1,093 Soccer1,093 Total in all sports 39,285

Other NCAA Sports in 2004 Outranking Swimming African American Females Swimming 127 Rowing130 Rowing130 Golf 166 Bowling239 Bowling239 Soccer702 Soccer702 Softball1,010 Volleyball1,082 Cross Country1,244 Volleyball1,082 Cross Country1,244 Total in all Sports 17,234

Are the Best Swimmers of African Descent In other sports? Sports with the most participants have the best athletes. Sports with the most participants have the best athletes. How often have you heard a sports commentator extol an athletes versatility? How often have you heard a sports commentator extol an athletes versatility? How do we know that Tiger, Venus and Alan Iverson are in the right sports? How do we know that Tiger, Venus and Alan Iverson are in the right sports?

Myth Busting MythBlacks are made for sprinting. Therefore, they are more dense and less buoyant. MythBlacks are made for sprinting. Therefore, they are more dense and less buoyant. The Truth American Style Swimming is geared toward sprinting. That is what the majority of American swimmers excel at.

More Myth Busting Myth Swimming is too expensive. Myth Swimming is too expensive. African American Participation in Swimming is outranked by several other sports which are equally (if not more) expensive.

And Even More Myth Busting MythBlacks are not built to swim. MythBlacks are not built to swim. Many of the best swimmers are well over six feet tall. Many of the best Basketball Players are over six feet tall.

Where to Look Click on Academics and Athletes then click on Leadership and Diversity Click on Academics and Athletes then click on Leadership and Diversity Click on Swim Clubs then click on Outreach Click on Swim Clubs then click on Outreach Click on YMCA Team Links Click on YMCA Team Links Click on Ranking Tables 2004 then click on Percent of People Who are Black Click on Ranking Tables 2004 then click on Percent of People Who are Black Twelve Years a Slave: Solomon Northup (b. 1808) Narrative of Solomon Northup, a Citizen of New-York, Kidnapped in Washington City in 1841, and Rescued in 1853: Electronic Edition. Text scanned (OCR) by Christopher Gwyn Text encoded by Natalia Smith First edition, ca. 700K Academic Affairs Library, UNC-CH University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Twelve Years a Slave: Solomon Northup (b. 1808) Narrative of Solomon Northup, a Citizen of New-York, Kidnapped in Washington City in 1841, and Rescued in 1853: Electronic Edition. Text scanned (OCR) by Christopher Gwyn Text encoded by Natalia Smith First edition, ca. 700K Academic Affairs Library, UNC-CH University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1997.