How a Ban on a Swim Cap Galvanized Black Swimmers

“This is so much bigger than banning a type of cap,” said Lia Neal, a two-time Olympic medalist for the U.S.

Ahead of the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, which begin later this month, members of the International Swimming Federation, known as FINA, are reconsidering a ban they put on a swim cap designed for Black hair. The product, Soul Cap, is meant to accommodate thicker, curlier hair textures to provide a better fit and protect hair from chlorine. FINA declined to comment on the status of the review process but a statement, released on July 2, said that the governing body was “currently reviewing the situation with regards to ‘Soul Cap’ and similar products, understanding the importance of inclusivity and representation.” The change comes after backlash and an interview in which the founders of Soul Cap told the BBC that FINA’s rationale behind the initial decision was that “athletes competing at the international events never used, neither require to use, caps of such size and configuration,” and that the Soul Cap does not follow “the natural form of the head.”