Lausanne, Switzerland- Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA), the International Swimming Federation has approved the use of caps designed for afro hair in all competitions.
Prior to Friday’s announcement, FINA had announced in July last year it would review whether the Soul Cap product designed to fit over dreadlocks, braids and afros could be used if there was no advantage to be gained from using them.
Soul Cap was then invited to reapply for a place on FINA’s approved list of competitive swimwear, and on Thursday the company revealed that the application had been successful.
“I am delighted that this swim cap has joined FINA’s approved swimwear list. This announcement follows a review and discussion on a cap design close between FINA and Soul Cap over the past year.
Promoting diversity and inclusivity is at the heart of FINA’s work, and it is very important that all aquatic athletes have access to the appropriate swimwear,” said FINA’s Executive Director, Brent Nowicki.
Soul Cap, which has worked in partnership with the United Kingdom (UK) Olympic open water swimmer, Alice Dearing, said it had been a long road to acceptance.
“For a long time, conventional swim caps have been an obstacle for swimmers with thick, curly, or volume-blessed hair. This result plays a huge part in our wider mission to improve inclusion in the sport.
We are so grateful to everyone who showed support and was part of creating this major change. As a new father and someone who didn’t learn to swim growing up, creating access for the next generation feels even more close to home. We have seen what community and collective energy can achieve, so we are hopeful to keep knocking down more of these barriers.
They can’t always find a cap that fits their hair type, and that often means that swimmers from some backgrounds end up avoiding competitions, or giving up the sport entirely. We want to see swimming become an accessible sport, with equipment and swimwear that lets anyone get involved and see success
This result plays a huge part in our wider mission to improve inclusion in the sport,” said Toks Ahmed, the co-founder of Soul Cap.
In addition, Alice said she was happy that there is no more wrong hair in all swimming competitions.
“Just one month before I was due to compete in last year’s Olympics, the biggest achievement of my life so far, I was swept up in an international cultural scandal because of my hair. A swimming cap to accommodate thicker, longer hair, was banned by FINA on the grounds that it did not follow the natural form of the head.
In the run-up to the competition, I collaborated with Soul Cap and its black-owned, UK-based creators who wanted to provide a better solution for swimmers with hair that doesn’t fit a one size fits all model.
All swimmers with long enough hair know the swimming cap routine, trying to get these caps which look impossibly small over our heads, dutifully bowing towards another person, asking for their assistance to stretch it over our hair, muttering thanks when it goes on without breaking. For some Black people in the swimming community, this experience can be even worse, as standard caps do not offer the space needed to fit our hair in.
So I am relieved and excited to hear that FINA has now overturned its original decision, and approved the Soul Cap for use in elite competition. As a Black woman and professional swimmer who loves both having her hair braided and wearing it in its natural, afro form, I know just how seismic this change will be,” said Alice.
