Soul Cap Afro Swimming Cover Olympic Brushoff May Continue Considered The Following Result.
The decision not to allow swimming caps for afro hair international competition - like Tokyo 2020 - may be reconsidered once there is a backlash. Soul Cap said Fina, the water sports' governing body, told them the hat was inappropriate because it didn't follow the "natural shape of the head."
The comments drew criticism from many swimmers, and some said it kept black people from being active in the sport. Now Fina says she is "looking at the situation" regarding the product. A statement said they understood the "importance of inclusion and representation."
"Fina is committed to ensuring that all watersports enthusiasts have access to swimwear suitable for competition when the swimwear does not offer a competitive advantage," he added. He said he would talk to Soul Cap about wearing the hat at the Fina development center that trains swimmers worldwide.
The Soul Cap makes for a cap that fits and protects dreads, aphros, fabrics, braids, and thick and curly hair. Afro hair is drier than natural hair because it has fewer layers of cells. In addition, sodium hypochlorite - or bleach - in swimming pools can further dry them out and cause damage. Young black swimmers told Radio 1 Newsbeat they were "disappointed and overwhelmed" by Fina's words last week.
Kenai Terrelonge, 17, said hair care was one of the many obstacles he faced as a black swimmer. "Using a smaller swimming cap that other people would wear would fit my head snugly, but because I applied [protective] oil to my hair while I was swimming, it kept sliding, and my hair got wet," said Kedjai, who is in Birmingham. Life.
Hats "can break down barriers."
Swim England has stated to "convince" people that soul hats are allowed in national competitions in the UK. He said he would voice his "concern" about Fina's refusal "through appropriate channels ."Afro hair swim caps can break down sports barriers for underrepresented groups, including black people," he added.
White British children are overrepresented relative to their population proportions, according to a January 2020 report by Sport England. For example, about 29.3% of white British children participated in swimming than 21.9% of Asian children and 20.1% of black children.