Change.org - Swim cap ban

Swim caps are making headlines ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games. The International Swimming Federation (FINA) has banned Soul Caps—a brand of swim caps made to fit over dreadlocks, afros, and other natural hairstyles. Critics are calling out FINA for making it harder for Black athletes to compete. They say the decision further demonstrates the extreme lack of diversity in elite swimming. Sign Sabrina’s petition to tell FINA to reverse the ban on inclusive swim caps before the Olympics. HELP STOP THE OLYMPIC SWIMMING FEDERATION FROM BANNING LARGE SWIM CAPS FOR BLACK SWIMMERS 4,895 have signed Sabrina Thompson Mitchell’s petition. Let’s get to 5,000!

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Young black swimmers are "disappointed and heartbroken" by a decision to ban a swimming cap from the Olympics that’s made to cover their hair. Soul Cap makes swimming caps to fit over and protect dreadlocks, afros, weaves, hair extensions, braids, and thick and curly hair. Soul Cap say the international governing body for swimming rejected an application for their caps to be certified for use at competitions.  FINA aka (International Swimming Federation) is the international federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for administering international competitions in water sports. FINA told SoulCap that the caps are unsuitable because they don’t follow "the natural form of the head". Click here for the full BBC article Another article on FINA’s ban We are asking for the world to do 2 things: 1--Sign this petition so that we can send to FINA headquarters expressing our outrage about their racial discrimination during the Olympic Games. 2--Visit SoulCap and purchase a cap from their store. Take a picture on social media using the hashtag #SoulCapInTokyo so that we can start a visual campaign showing our solidarity for the Black swimmers who want to compete in the Olympics wearing a cap that is suitable for their hair. It is 2021. No one has time to support racist and biased bans such as this. NOT ON OUR WATCH.

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