In the 03/10/1976 Washington Post Article by Dennis Collins, "DC Blacks Cut Bonds in Swim World," interesting

and relevant items are featured which I think merit further research and documentation.  The article was a report on the

DCPS Coaches Relay Championship in which 4 generations of Coaches and Swimmers gathered to celebrate African

American participation in our sport.

 

 Thomas Hughes, a DC resident born in 1902 , graduated from Dunbar HS in 1921…

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From Los Angeles Times, By Elaine Woo:

U.S. Defense Department analyst Paul E. Sullivan was the lead plaintiff in a 1969 Supreme Court case that ruled against his Virginia swim club's whites-only policy. 'He just felt right was right,' says his daughter.

Paul E. Sullivan, an analyst with the U.S. Defense Department who won an important…

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  I am proposing that all DAP network affiliates gather materials in an effort to use the network resources to enable the research and production of a feature-length documentary project on the history of Swimming in the US.  So many times errors and omissions are made in the historical record until such a project is finished.

  In particular, I am urging all DAP affiliates to scan photo images, articles, and any other oral-history interviews in

an effort to compile a…

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International Water Safety Day - Striving to make a planet that’s 70 percent water, 100 percent water safe. What is it? International Water Safety Day (IWSD) is a day designed to educate youth in becoming safer in and around the water while spreading global awareness about the ongoing drowning pandemic.…

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Speech of Hon. Chaka Fattah of Pennsylvania in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, March 29, 2011

 

Mr. Fattah: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate a young man of remarkable achievement. Shaun Anderson is co-founder and President of…

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2011 National Diversity Select Camp- Olympic Training Center- Colorado Springs, CO



The future looks bright with a great group of kids and an inspirational coaching staff here at the Olympic Training Center for the 2011 National Diversity Select Camp.  I feel that each classroom and water session have met the purpose of the camp, which is to help instill a vision of success and inspire athletes from ethnically underrepresented populations to become leaders in the sport of swimming. …

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I am participating in the International Drowning Prevention Conference in Vietnam next week.  There will be over 400 participants from 50 countries gathering together to share information, to learn - and to develop a global platform regarding preventing…

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Courtesy of Peter H. Bick

From SwimmingWorldMagazine.com:



Dax Hill joins The Morning Swim Show today to talk about his performances at the NCAA championships..



Hill, a sophomore at the…

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Sweep rowing isn't like riding a bicycle. Once you get past training wheels, find balance and work under your own power, you're all set for life long recreational enjoyment. Doesn't matter how long you've been away from it, just as long as you know the basics, all you've gotta do is to get on and ride. You can still get from here to there without much muscle memory recall. And you don't have other cyclists depending upon you to get…

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Courtesy of Peter H. Bick

From SwimmingWorldMagazine.com:



Brett Fraser joins the show to talk about continuing Florida's history in the 200 freestyle at the NCAA championships and how his brother Shaune helped inspire him to win the championship… Continue

I am super excited about getting back into rowing this spring.  Last Wednesday, I signed up for a "guest row" at my local club.  As soon as we got the shells down to the docks, placed them in the water, and began to lock our oars into the oarlocks, lightning struck. I was so sad :( However, we quickly made good use of being at the boathouse at 5:30am by rowing on the indoor machines (ergometers, a.k.a. "ergs"). I wasn't half as shabby as I anticipated lol ;-)

 

Well, tonight I…

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A really nice person from HBO Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel contacted a while ago us about a story they were working on. They had come across the recent research and were appalled by the raw numbers reflecting the drowning rate of Blacks and Hispanics. We often get calls from media folks who are pursuing their stories. We welcome these calls and always hope that they will come see our program, our kids, our families, our volunteers, their families, our coaches and our community.…

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 Not everyone will graduate from high school or go to college.  Not everyone will want to become a competitive swimmer.   So what is the point? 

 

Some will.

 

I believe in the dignity of giving of oneself to make things better.  If I can improve a stroke, or save a life from drowning, or show a newly arrived family a little about my…

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I grew up as a first generation Mexican-American raised solidly in the American dream. My father became a citizen during WWII where he served on PT Boat 129. (President Kennedy's PT boat was 109). What I hope to bring to swimming is truth..my truths. For my experience and truth is truly all I have to share.



But what has this to do with swimming?



My father taught me that respect was the basis for all we do. When my swimmer's come on deck, before they touch the water, they… Continue

From Swimming World Magazine, by Jenny Wilson, Swimming World Intern:



A recent University of Memphis study commissioned by USA Swimming investigated swimming ability in minority youth. The study reported that nearly 70 percent of African-American children don't know how to swim, compared to only 40 percent of white children. Similarly, the non-swimming rate for Hispanic… Continue