She’s on a mission to inspire young black girls
Sometimes, all you need do is DARE believe.
The dictate society spills – “Black people can’t swim” has got nothing on this inspiring athlete and yes, we absolutely love to see her preaching the gospel.
“Black people CAN swim but for years they felt excluded.”
Alice Dearing has forever loved the thrill of swimming, but thinking of heading and competing at the Olympics? That didn’t sort of come into the equation for a long long time. It’s all rewritten now!
At 24, Alice Dearing, on Saturday June 19 made history as the first black woman to represent Great Britain in swimming at the Olympic Games. She is set to become only the third black Team GB swimmer.
The Open water swimmer ranked 4th at FINA Marathon Swim Qualifier 2021 in Setubal (POR) with a Olympic berth in 2h02m01s20.
An athlete on a mission to rewrite the past and break sterotypes!
“This is the most motivated I have ever been in the sport. A medal in Tokyo would be incredible obviously. If I can inspire anybody, a little black girl or boy, to get in the water and give it a try, I’ve done myself proud!” Dearing said who was amongst the 15 female swimmers to grab the coveted qualification spot.
In an interview with BBC sport, Dearing said: “I have been the only black swimmer on Team GB for about five years now. It is kind of sad because we are in 2021 and I really wish I wasn’t. I have always dealt with it and told myself that these are the circumstances that I am in.”
”For me, swimming is a life-saving skill. It can literally save your life. The fact that people brush this aside and ignore it, is concerning.”
“I have heard a lot of people on TV saying that black people can’t swim because they are too heavy. But it is not the case, you’re really not too heavy. It’s a complete myth.”
“I want to use my experience to show people that it is possible to swim being a black person, being a black woman with afro hair. It is completely possible,” Dearing said
