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."
Soul Cap, a black-owned brand that creates swimming caps for natural hair, was denied certification for approved Olympic swim gear by the federation for international competitions in water sports
people.com