Alia Atkinson Becomes The First Black Woman To Win A World Swimming Title

Jamaican swimmer Alia Atkinson recently became the first Black woman to win a world swimming title with the 100m breast stroke at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Doha, Qatar.

“Atkinson completed the short course race in 1 minute and 2.36 seconds, tying the world record, which according to FINA standards counts as its own record,” reports Jezebel.

Atkinson says she hopes her victory will strip away stereotypes about Blacks being non-swimmers. “I am very hopeful that my personal success in Qatar will ignite others, especially those in the ‘so called’ non-traditional sports to try even harder because now they can see for themselves that significant achievements can be attained,” Atkinson, who lives in Florida, told Jamaican Observer Online. “But let me stress that it takes a lot of work, in fact very hard work, mixed with very heavy doses of patience. I have had disappointments, I have had some good results and it all came together in just over a minute in Doha. I have worked really hard for my achievement in Qatar.”
She will start competing again in February 2015 with the US Grand Prix races. “But for now it is rest, rest and more rest,” the 25-year-old said.

Remember the Jamaican bobsled team? The team entered a sport most people would not associate with Jamaica, nor Blacks in general. Many have said swimming too was not a sport for Blacks. But Atkinson has proved them wrong.

- See more at: http://madamenoire.com/495096/alia-atkinson-first-black-woman-win-world-swimming-title/#sthash.HI1yV6w3.dpuf

I've personally never understood the "we're not good swimmers" -stereotype, since I've been swimming since childhood...I was never competitive, but it is something I do well and enjoy...On the flipside, I'm a horribly uncoordinated dancer, so I guess it evens out