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A Black-owned swimming cap brand has been denied certification to be used as swim gear at the Tokyo Olympics.

On Wednesday, Metro reported that FINA, the federation for international competitions in water sports, recognized by the International Olympic Committee, denied an application for swim gear brand Soul Cap to certify its products for competition, including the Olympic Games. The outlet states that the FINA committee said to their "best knowledge, the athletes competing at the International events never used, neither require to use, caps of such size and configuration," adding that the caps don't follow "the natural form of the head."

Soul Cap, created in 2017, is a company that designs swimming caps specifically for natural hair in order for athletes to compete easily without struggling with cap size or the threat of damaging their hair. Following the decision, the company released a statement on social media explaining their disappointment in the decision and what it means for inclusivity within the sport.

"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," said co-founders Toks Ahmed and Michael Chapman. "For younger swimmers, feeling included and seeing yourself in a sport at a young age is crucial. FINA's recent dismissal could discourage many younger athletes from pursuing the sport as they progress through local, county and national competitive swimming."

 
A Black-owned swimming cap brand has been denied certification to be used as swim gear at the Tokyo Olympics.

On Wednesday, Metro reported that FINA, the federation for international competitions in water sports, recognized by the International Olympic Committee, denied an application for swim gear brand Soul Cap to certify its products for competition, including the Olympic Games. The outlet states that the FINA committee said to their "best knowledge, the athletes competing at the International events never used, neither require to use, caps of such size and configuration," adding that the caps don't follow "the natural form of the head."

Soul Cap, created in 2017, is a company that designs swimming caps specifically for natural hair in order for athletes to compete easily without struggling with cap size or the threat of damaging their hair. Following the decision, the company released a statement on social media explaining their disappointment in the decision and what it means for inclusivity within the sport.

"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," said co-founders Toks Ahmed and Michael Chapman. "For younger swimmers, feeling included and seeing yourself in a sport at a young age is crucial. FINA's recent dismissal could discourage many younger athletes from pursuing the sport as they progress through local, county and national competitive swimming."


This is a case of them needing to not give up and push more. Part of the problem is that not enough black people compete in swimming events, so there has never been a problem. The case needs to be built to show that there is a need for these caps for black athletes, and they will probably also have to prove that the caps don't somehow offer an unfair competitive advantage.
 
This is a case of them needing to not give up and push more. Part of the problem is that not enough black people compete in swimming events, so there has never been a problem. The case needs to be built to show that there is a need for these caps for black athletes, and they will probably also have to prove that the caps don't somehow offer an unfair competitive advantage.

After experiencing racism on her way to Olympic glory, swimmer Simone Manuel is sharing her story to create a better future for those following in her footsteps.

The 23-year-old — who is the first Black woman to earn an individual medal in Olympic swimming — is one of four athletes participating in P&G's "Lead with Love Campaign," which highlights the stories of Olympians and Paralympians who are working to serve their communities. The initiative recognizes Manuel for using her platform as an Olympian to speak out against racism, something she was subjected to both "overtly and covertly" during her pursuit of swimming.

"I think that my journey in the sport of swimming as a Black woman has been one with many trials and tribulations," Manuel tells PEOPLE.


 
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Damn, I got caught up in some crazy rain just now. I was coming out of the story, and I saw that shit coming I tried to beat it to the car and didn't make it. I couldn't have been in it for longer than 10 seconds and you would have thought I just jumped fully clothed into a pool.
 
What ya'll think about this incident?



There is a lot to say about the incident itself, but what I think is more interesting is Aba's reaction. It kinda highlights the point I've been making for a long time. Whenever a woman gets attacked or basically anything happens to a woman, dudes are often like "That was terrible, but she shouldn't have...." The conversation usually goes sideways at that point and the guys who said it get accused of victim blaming and being anti-woman.

I've been saying for a long time that it's just a difference in the way men are conditioned to look at things. We are just taught that we have to always be accountable for our actions. In this particular case, Aba and Preach clearly think that the guy was the victim, but Aba's whole commentary was him talking about what he shouldn't have done. It's not about being against women. Some people just are wired to acknowledge reality as it is and their response is to always point what might have been done to avoid the bad situation.
 
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