Written by Fadeke Banjo.
FINA’s recent Ban of a Black-owned swim cap company ‘Soul Cap designed for Afro hair, from being worn in this year’s Olympics, get's online backlash.
The left Photo of model Haddi wearing Soul Cap's XL swim cap, and the photo on the right is British Olympic swimmer Alice Dearing wearing a swim cap from Soul Cap. Photo credit is taken from the official website for Soul Cap.
Hey, curl friends, Fadeke here. Today’s blog topic is slightly different from the type of content I usually post on this blog; however, I believe that it is an important topic to discuss, and I would love to hear your thought on this as well.
FINA, the federation for international competitions in water sports (Metro, 2021), recently rejected and banned a black-owned swimming cap company ‘Soul Cap’ from the UK, whose large swimming caps are specifically designed for people with ‘ thick, curly, and voluminous hair’ (Soulcap) from not being part of the certified swimming caps to wear for competitive swimming in this year’s Olympics happening in Tokyo (Metro, 2021). Although certain swimming caps of certain sizes have been approved by FINA to be worn at the Olympics and in international swimming competitions (Metro,2021), ‘Soul caps’ has been excluded from this category of suitable swimwear caps. Moreover, athletes wearing such swimming caps from ‘Soul caps’ will not compete whilst wearing one (Metro, 2021).
What is the reason behind this controversial decision, you may ask?
According to an online article from Metro (2021), discussing this ban from FINA and the justification behind FINA's decision. FINA stated that to their ‘best knowledge, the athletes competing at the international events never used, neither required to use, caps of such size and configuration’ (Metro, 2021). Moreover, FINA described the swim caps from Soul Cap as unsuitable and not ‘following the natural form of the head’ (Metro, 2021).
A couple of questions come to mind after reading this statement that I would want FINA to consider perhaps as well as you the readers to ponder upon:
1) Which athletes are FINA referring to in their statement? Do they have curly, thick, and voluminous hair that require swimming caps that accommodate their hair needs?
2) Are the athlete's FINA referring to their statement going to be the ones most affected by this recent ban?
3) What do they mean when they say ‘not following the natural form of the head‘? Do swimmers with naturally curly and thick hair growing out of their scalp now have an abnormal head – shapes? Or these swimmers just do fit into this head-shape category FINA is referring to? (Most Afro-hair defies gravity and naturally grows up and doesn’t naturally hang like most hair-types)
4) Does FINA have any scientific evidence or research to support its recent decision?
5) Are there any scientific evidence that supports the idea that wearing an extra-large swimming cap such as the ones ‘Soul Cap’ company make (specifically designed for people with curly, thick, and voluminous hair) make a professional swimmer have a substantial advantage over professional swimmers who do not wear this type of swimming cap and do not have a similar hair type?
I ask these questions because I do not believe the justification given by FINA on their decision to ban ‘Soul Cap’ swim caps from being worn by swimmers competing in the Tokyo Olympics this year is a valid reason. Rather I see this decision as another way to exclude black athletes and people of colour who are already a minority within the international swimming community and who will be most affected by this ban. For example, according to a statement from Swimming England mentioned in a BBC (2019) article in 2019, only 668 out of 73,000 competitive swimmers identify as black or mixed-race are registered with Swimming England (Jones, 2019). Moreover, research from Swimming England found that 95% of black adults and 80% of black children cannot swim in the UK and that only 2% of regular swimmers are black (Walker, 2021). These statistics are alarming, but they also showcase the under-representation of black swimmers both within competitive swimming communities such as Swimming England and outside this community. However, some recent strides in the number of black swimming athletes competing in the Olympics, including Britain’s very own Alice Dearing, the first black woman to represent Great Britain in swimming for the 2021 Olympics (Goodbody, 2021).
Going back to the matter at hand. This ban, I believe, specifically affects professional swimmers, who not only identify as black, mixed-race, and other people of colour but also who wear their naturally curly, thick, and voluminous hair, who cannot control the way their natural hair grows from their scalp and who need a swimming cap that accommodates to their hair needs. Hence are being denied from potentially competing in a once in a lifetime opportunity like the Tokyo Olympics simply because FINA does not want to accommodate their hair needs. This is both unfair and borderline racist and discriminating to an already marginalised group both within wider society and within competitive sports like swimming.
Soul Cap is a UK black-owned swimming cap company that came about in 2017, run by two best friends Michael and Toks, co-partners of this swim cap company, ‘Soul Cap’. However, their background is in Economics and Politics and Actuary (Soul Cap, n/a). The idea of the swim cap company was sparked by the two best friends, taking up swimming lessons together, where they encounter a woman with afro hair who was struggling with the size of her swimming cap (Soul Cap, n/a). So the duo began to research this dilemma faced by many black women and women of colour with curly hair and how it had been overlooked within the health and beauty industry for years (Soul Cap, n/a).
The two best friends began the journey of creating what would be known as ‘Soul Cap’, an extra-large swimming cap designed for women with curly and voluminous hair in mind (Soul Cap, n/a). Today, the company has shipped over 300,000 of their swimming caps to customers from all over the world (Soul Cap, n/a).
Photo of Soul Cap model Haddi wearing Soul Cap's XL swim cap, photo taken from the Soul Cap website.
My swimming cap won’t fit!
When I went swimming (which, if I am honest, it has been years and I still don’t know how to swim sadly), I found trying to fit my hair or, in some instances, my braids into a swimming cap both uncomfortable and taxing. I was not rocking my thick- naturally curly afro-textured hair during this time, so I can’t imagine how more difficult it would be to try and fit my thick natural hair into a conventional swim cap. Moreover, black women have for years pride themselves in taking care of their hair. For us, it’s more than just hair. It’s a form of self-grooming, self-expression and has cultural, spiritual, and historical significance. Moreover, research shows that black women spend six times more than their white female counterparts on haircare in the UK, even though they only make 4% of the UK population (Mamona, 2020).
The process black women take in taking care and styling their hair can sometimes take many hours to do. Whether it’s getting it professionally done at the hair salon or styling their own natural hair at home. Therefore, entering a swimming pool with our freshly done hairstyles or rocking our natural hair under a swimming cap can be a hit or miss.
For instance, if the swimming cap doesn’t fit a black woman with thick curly hair head and fully cover her hair, it could cause water, which contains chloride, to seep through the swimming cap. This, in turn, could not only ruin the hairstyles that she spent hours and money doing. Also, dealing with the aftermath of the condition of our hair once we are done swimming is another challenge. The long task of her having to re-washing and conditioning our hair to get rid of the chloride in our hair. Which can often be time-consuming at times.
Also, chlorine has been found not only to be damaging to all hair types but even worse for curly hair type, which is naturally drier than other hair types like straight hair (Bender, 2018). In addition, sodium hypochlorite, also known as chlorine used in most swimming pools, can leave curly hair feeling brittle and dry if not correctly washed out and conditioned (Jones, 2019).
With all of these factors to consider, if I ever decide to go back to learning to swim (which I really want to learn one day, as it is an important life-saving skill but also, I want to overcome my fear of water and swimming), I will defiantly want to purchase a swimming cap like the one from the company ‘Soul Cap’ that will cater to my curly hair needs. Moreover, I know that other curly hair women, men and young people would appreciate having a swimming cap like Soul Cap to wear, to protect their hair whilst swimming. I also believe my mother will also appreciate a swimming cap from Soul Cap, as she had mentioned in the past to me that when she used to go for swimming lessons, she would often have to wear two swimming caps so that she could fit her locs also known as dread-locs at time.
I know that my mum and I are not alone when it comes to this dilemma of finding suitable swimming caps for our hair needs. Whether we are rocking our afro or wearing some braids extensions, we will need a swimming cap that actually fits.
Responses on social media against FINA’s ban
The first response I want to highlight is the statement given by the co-owners of Soul Cap Michael, and Toks made on ‘Soul Cap‘ Instagram page @soulcapofficial in response to FINA’s recent decision to ban the black-owned swim cap company’s caps from being worn in this year’s Olympics. This statement was posted on Soul Cap's official Instagram page on the 1st of July, and the post so far has 4,116 likes. This is what was said on the Instagram post and caption:
‘’How do we achieve participation and representation in the world of competition swimmers, if the governing body stops suitable swimwear being available to those who are underrepresented?’’ (@soulcapofficial (Instagram), 2021). The Instagram post also went on to read ‘’We hoped to further our work for diversity in swimming by having our swim caps certified for competition, so swimmers at any level don’t have to choose between the sport they love and their hair’’ (Toks Ahmed and Michael Chapman, Soul Cap founders – @soulcapofficial, (Instagram), 2021).
The founders of Soul Cap Matthew and Toks, in their recent statement on the official Instagram page for Soul Cap, also highlighted two things that we can ponder on. The first being the need for representation within the water sports, in particular swimming, for young swimmers (Toks Ahmed and Michael Chapman, Soul Cap founders – @soulcapofficial, (Instagram), 2021 ), including for young people of colour to see people that look like them within the swimming sports. The second point highlighted was that FINA’s recent dismissal of Soul Cap’s product could actually discourage many younger athletes from wanting to pursue competitive swimming from a local, county, and national level (Toks Ahmed and Michael Chapman, Soul Cap founders – @OfficialSoulCap, (Instagram), 2021). Like many other small businesses, Soul Cap can only do so much and tend to have a little power, compared to a more powerful organization like FINA in making such major decisions. The co-founders of Soul Cap on this Instagram post also thanked their supporters during this challenging time.
Black Swimming Association is a non-profit organisation based in the UK. It was set up to “diversify the world of aquatics through education, advocacy, support and research” (Black Swimming Association, n/a).
Alice Dearing, a British Olympic swimmer, is the brand ambassador and co-founder of the Black Swimming Association alongside her team members Danielle Obe, Ed Accura and Seren Jones (Black Swimming Association n/a).
The non-profit organisation Black Swimming Association also called out FINA for their recent decision to ban Soul Cap’s swim caps from being worn in the Tokyo Olympics. The Black Swimming Association expressed their disproval for FINA’s recent decision through a Twitter thread on their official Twitter page @BlackSwimAssoc. A couple of Twitter users also joined this thread:
The Twitter thread after the Black Swimming Association initial tweet concerning FINA's decision to ban 'Soul Cap' swim caps designed for Afro hair from being worn in the 2021 Olympics:
Link to the initial tweet Black Swimimg Association posted and the Twitter thread (In response to FINA's black swim-cap ban. Available at :
https://twitter.com/BlackSwimAssoc/status/1410266781307047936 (Accessed: 4th June 2021).
In the midst of the backlash received by FINA’s decision to ban a black-owned swim cap company ‘Soul cap’ caps to be worn by swimmers in this year’s Olympics in Tokyo. There has also been a recent petition in response to the ban. This petition was created by user Sarah MacDonald on the Change.org website, entitled ‘Allow Inclusive Swim Caps at the 2021 Olympics ‘. The petition hopes for FINA to reconsider its recent decision and gave a couple of reasons for FINA to consider. The petition also wants FINA to allow for inclusive swim caps to be worn in this year’s Tokyo Olympics (Sarah MacDonald ‘Allow inclusive Swim Caps at the 2021 Olympics’, change.org). The petition has received so far 1,577signatures with hopes of reaching 2,500 signatures.
The sad and racist History behind black people’s relationship with swimming and the barriers that stop many black people from participating in swimming or learning to swim.
Along with the shocking statistics surrounding the black community and swimming, there has also been a harmful stereotype and assumption that has been made that black people can’t swim. However, to understand this, we need to look back at the historical context behind the complex relationship between the black community and swimming.
During the 19th century in the USA, both within the north and south of America, racial segregation was the norm, including when it came to public pools (Blakemore, 2021).
'Some pools were officially designated as ‘white only pools’ and only a few public pools were built in predominantly black or white areas in order to promote segregation at the time' (Blakemore, 2021). - National Geographic- 'Public swiming pools are still haunted by segeration legacy'.
Furthermore, other minorities, including Latinos and Asian Americans, were also forced to use separate facilities (Blakemore, 2021). Moving into the 20th century with the move for integration in the USA, through the work of protesters and civil rights lawsuits, however, despite these efforts at the time, pool-related exclusion and violence continued (Blakemore, 2021). For example, the black community in America faced racially motivated attacks when wanting to enter integrated swimming pools, being threatened, beaten, and having pools being drained (Blakemore, 2021). Furthermore, even though the 1964 civil rights act had outlawed segregation in public places, there had been a decline of municipal pools, with white middle-class members relocating from cities to suburbs and investing in private pools (Blakemore, 2021).
This, in turn, meant that there were fewer patrons of public pools which meant there was less reasoning for funding and upkeep of public pools (Blakemore, 2021). Moreover, the private swimming clubs that were predominant in white suburbs had excluded non-white members through means such as high membership fees as well as exclusive membership requirements (Blakemore, 2021).
Despite in modern America there are no longer segregated pools, America’s history regarding race and pools (Blakemore, 2021) still plays a significant role in the continued racial tension in America. Including more recent incidents for instance, an incident of a black mother and son who were asked to leave a historically black pool simply for talking across the lap lines in 2020 (Samuel, 2020). There was also an earlier incident in 2015 involving a black girl being slammed to the ground by a white police officer in the midst of tensions at a Texas pool (Fantz, Yan, Shoichet, 2015; Blakemore, 2021). Both incidents foreshadow America’s racist and segregated past when it comes to ethnic minorities and swimming.
Moreover, The USA’s racist and segregated past, including when it came to having separate swimming pools for white and people of colour, may be a reason behind the staggering statistics from a 2017 study by the USA Swimming Foundation, which showed that nearly 64% of black children and 45% of Latino children in America couldn’t swim compared to 40% of white American children (USA Swimming Foundation, 2017; Blakemore, 2021). This may be a reason behind why a significant percentage of people of colour in the USA can’t swim or are not learning to swim is because in the past they had been denied access or only had a few public swimming pools facilities in past along with financial barriers and the fear of experiencing racism when attending public swimming pools facilities. With this being said, one could argue that FINA’s recent decision to ban a black-owned swim cap company, ‘Soul Cap’ from being worn in the Olympics, could therefore act as yet another barrier or deterrent for many ethnic minorities from wanting to participate in swimming.
However, racism when it comes to swimming is not just excluded to the USA and its racist past, but there have also been incidents when black swimmers from the UK have expressed incidents of racism in the sports, including Alice Dearing, Britain’s first black swimmer to be part of this year’s Olympics, had mentioned in an interview at the age of 17 she had overheard a coach refer to her as the ‘’Skinny N-word’’ (BBC sport, 2020). This again could be another barrier for black people and people of colour to enter the swimming sports or learn to swim as of the fear of facing some sort of racism.
Another barrier that has stopped people from the black community and perhaps other ethnic minorities from participating in swimming is the financial cost of swimming. ''Parents of school-aged children must decide between spending $75 on school supplies or $75 on a swimsuit'' (Swim Swam, 2021). In addition, there is also the cost of swimming lessons, the cost of swimming club fees and the cost of the equipment and apparel that swimmers consistently use (Dougherty, 2017). Overall, the total cost when it comes to this competitive sport could therefore act as a major deterrent for people from the black community and other people of colour to participate in swimming (let alone at a competitive level) as they may feel they can’t afford it, especially if they come from a low-income background. Furthermore, Swimming has also been seen as an elite white sport (Swim Swam, 2021) which may deter people of colour and people from a working-class background to participate in learning swim, as they feel unrepresented.
Despite these barriers, learning to swim is still seen as an important lifesaving skill to have. Moreover, organisations such as Black Swimming Association in the UK are campaigning to find ways to tackle such barriers faced by black people and people of colour when it comes to swimming and helping to try to increase engagement among this racial group when it comes to participating in swimming.
FINA’s recent statement in midst of uproar against its recent decision to ban Black-owned swim cap company ‘Soul Cap’ from being worn in this year’s Olympics.
In response to the backlash FINA received with its recent ban decision, FINA made a recent statement on their official website on the 2nd of July. Here is a link to their statement:
In summary of FINA's recent statement, FINA is in the process of reconsidering approving Soul Cap's swim caps as being part of the suitable swimming caps to be worn in this year's Olympics.
Where are the black representatives and people of colour within swimming committees like FINA?
Here are my last final thoughts on this subject matter. Although I am happy to hear that FINA perhaps is reconsidering their decision of originally banning the ‘Soul Cap’ swim cap from being worn in the Olympics, I wonder if it wasn’t for the backlash they received from online communities on social media along with organizations such as Black Swimming Association. Therefore, would FINA carry on with its decision? Moreover, I also pose the question, Where are the black representatives and people of colour within swimming committees like FINA?
If there is one thing that 2020 taught me through the Black Lives Matter movement, is if we want real change within the workplace, institutions, and wider society when it comes to black representation, justice and their needs being met. There needs to be no longer performative activism from big companies, through the use of posting black squares on their social media accounts or a couple of BLM related post as they did last summer, as an attempt to show their solidarity to the cause of The Black Lives Matter movement or have a couple of black workers to fit their diversity quarter. There needs to be real practical change, and we need to see black people and other people of colour in all levels of the workplace & institutions including being the top level of management and sitting at the tables and meetings where decisions are being made that will affect them and other black workers. Similarly, this also needs to be applied within the context of the Olympics and the different committees involved, including FINA. Perhaps if there were any black people as well as other people of colour that were part of the FINA Committee, at the time of this decision, they could have been a spokesperson for black professional swimmers competing in the Olympics, who could address their needs including their hair needs and finding ways to accommodate to this.
Yes, I don't expect FINA's board meeting to be like Destiny's Child's Independent women music video, but you get the jest, lol! (Representation matters across the board for real change to happen).
Moreover, the Olympics could be missing out on the opportunity to be the first event to support a black-owned swim cap company to be worn during this year’s Olympics in Tokyo. Imagine the impact this will make not only for the existing small population of ethnic minorities (particularly those from a black ethnic background as well those from other ethnic minority groups) that are already underrepresented within the swimming category of the Olympics. To feel seen and heard and that their needs are being accommodated too, including their hair needs (in particular for swimmers who have thick curly hair ) but could also encourage the future generation of potential swimmers (in particular those with naturally thick curly hair from ethnic minority backgrounds) to want to aspire to be part of the competitive swimming community on a local, country and national level. Moreover, this could make a sport which often seen as an elite and white-dominated sport, be seen in a new light, as a sport that is becoming more inclusive and accessible to all including those with curly hair types.
Overall, FINA’s recent decision to ban a swim cap designed for thick curly and voluminous hair leaves black women, men, other people of colour, and young inspiring swimmers with naturally curly hair in a conspiring position. To pick between choosing between their hair and the sport they love. This is not a decision they should have to make, why can’t the people in charge of this sport make space, adapt and be accommodating and inclusive to all swimmers from all different backgrounds and with all different hair types and hair needs. Why is it the other way round at the moment?
What are your thoughts on FINA’s recent decision to ban Soul Cap designed for Afro-hair from being worn in this year's Olympics? Do you agree or disagree with their decision?
Comment down below your thoughts or tweet on Twitter with the hashtags #FINAswimcapban #swimmingwhilstblack #swimmingwithafrohair and #mynaturalcrownandiblog.
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If you are interested in signing the petition mentioned in today's blog to allow for inclusive swim Caps at the 2021 Olympics (including the Soul Cap swim cap). Here is a link:
Sarah MacDonald (2021). ‘Allow Inclusive Swim Caps at the 2021 Olympics’. Change.org. Available at: https://www.change.org/p/f%C3%A9d%C3%A9ration-internationale-de-natation-allow-inclusive-swim-caps-in-all-fina-competitions (Accessed: 2nd July 2021).
Here are some related articles to check out on this topic:
Blakemore, E (2021). Public swimming pools are still haunted by segregation’s legacy. National Geographic. 11 June. Available at: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/public-swimming-pools-still-haunted-by-segregation-legacy (Accessed: 2nd July 2021)
Goodbody, J (2021). Racism has held up ethnic minorities in swimming, says Alice Dearing’. The Guardian. 25th June. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jun/25/racism-has-held-up-ethnic-minorities-in-swimming-says-alice-dearing (Accessed: 4th July 2021)
Jones, S (2019) ‘Team GB’s only black swimmer:’ I understand why girls would quit over their hair’. BBC. 6th June. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-49247624 (Accessed: 2nd July 2021)
Metro (2021) ‘Swimming hats for Afro hair barred from Olympics as Official body says elite athletes ‘don’t require caps of such size’. Natalie Morris. 30th June. Available at: https://metro.co.uk/2021/06/30/inclusive-swimming-hats-for-afro-hair-barred-from-the-olympics-14846410/ (Accessed: 1st July 2021)
Nyima J, (2021) ‘Olympics 2021: why banning Afro-friendly swimming caps at the Tokyo games is ‘’undeniably racist’. Stylist. Available at: https://www.stylist.co.uk/fitness-health/wellbeing/olympics-2021-afro-swimming-cap-racism/539629 (Accessed: 1st July 2021)
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