Ninety-five per cent of Black adults don't swim – meet the people trying to change that
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/05/17/16/IMG_5332.jpg)
For many Black people, the idea of ‘of course’ not being able to swim ‘is kind of a running joke’. But many in the UK are fighting for change, both in and out of the pool. Nicole Vassell meets just a handful of the country’s Black swimming pioneers
![](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/59955c89db1cb7a819183e04f398d1e8f03d8e3b/0_29_5616_3370/master/5616.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=6ab826ea55de6a9c43f9bbdcf49e93d3)
The black guy who can't float: why I finally (almost) learned to swim, Swimming
![](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article26777619.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200d/1_Daily-MirrorText-Florence-freemanAnnalize-Butler-a-black-swimming-instructor-who-has-begun-her-o.jpg)
Why it's time to challenge the cliche that 'Black people can't swim - Mirror Online
![](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2006/06/19/health/19swim.span.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale)
Everyone Into the Water - The New York Times
![](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/304/mcs/media/images/48962000/jpg/_48962750_jonesless_304.jpg)
Why don't black Americans swim? - BBC News
![](https://www.builtlean.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Ideal-Body-Fat-Percentage-Chart1.jpg)
Ideal Body Fat Percentage Chart: How Lean Should You Be?
![](https://orato.world/wp-content/uploads/jiya-featured-1024x768.jpeg)
Autistic Girl in India sets record by swimming Palk Strait
![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZTcyY2IxN2MtODU0YS00NjE1LTk5NzEtODBiYzYzYjUzNzJjXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyOTQ2NTc1ODc@._V1_.jpg)
A Film Called Blacks Can't Swim (My Journey My Story) (2020) - IMDb
![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81lu9QMuMJL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg)
Swim Team: A Graphic Novel: Christmas, Johnnie, Christmas, Johnnie: 9780063056763: Books
![](https://vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/lia-thomas-hogshead-controversy-scaled.jpg)
Why Transgender Athletes Must Not Compete Against Biological Females