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Black trailblazers in the sport of swimming

Amber Matsumoto
  • <p>20-year-old Simone Manuel became the first black female swimmer to win an Olympic medal for America when she tied for first place in the 100m freestyle. </p>
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    Simone Manuel

    20-year-old Simone Manuel became the first black female swimmer to win an Olympic medal for America when she tied for first place in the 100m freestyle.

  • <p>Alia Atkinson was the first African-American woman to win a world title in swimming (2015, 100 m breaststroke, world short course swimming championship, Doha). </p>
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    Alia Atkinson

    Alia Atkinson was the first African-American woman to win a world title in swimming (2015, 100 m breaststroke, world short course swimming championship, Doha).

  • <p>Anthony Ervin was the first African-American swimmer to make a U.S. Olympic swimming team (2000 Sydney Olympic Games). </p>
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    Anthony Ervin

    Anthony Ervin was the first African-American swimmer to make a U.S. Olympic swimming team (2000 Sydney Olympic Games).

  • <p>Alison Terry was the first African-American female swimmer to make a U.S. national team (1999, Pan American Games). </p>
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    Alison Terry

    Alison Terry was the first African-American female swimmer to make a U.S. national team (1999, Pan American Games).

  • <p>Sabir Muhammad was the first African-American swimmer to set an American record (1997, Stanford University, 100 Fly). </p>
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    Sabir Muhammad

    Sabir Muhammad was the first African-American swimmer to set an American record (1997, Stanford University, 100 Fly).

  • <p>Anthony Nesty was the first swimmer of African descent to win an Olympic gold medal (1988, Seoul, 100 Fly); First male swimmer of African descent to win an NCAA Div. I Championship (1990-1992, 100 Fly). </p>
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    Anthony Nesty

    Anthony Nesty was the first swimmer of African descent to win an Olympic gold medal (1988, Seoul, 100 Fly); First male swimmer of African descent to win an NCAA Div. I Championship (1990-1992, 100 Fly).

  • <p>Enith Brigitha of the Netherlands was the first swimmer of African descent to win an Olympic medal (1976, Montreal, 100 Free). </p>
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    Enith Brigitha

    Enith Brigitha of the Netherlands was the first swimmer of African descent to win an Olympic medal (1976, Montreal, 100 Free).

  • <p>Sybil Smith was the first African-American female swimmer to score in an NCAA final (1988, Boston University, 100 Back). Her daughter is tennis star Sloane Stephens (right). </p>
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    Sybil Smith

    Sybil Smith was the first African-American female swimmer to score in an NCAA final (1988, Boston University, 100 Back). Her daughter is tennis star Sloane Stephens (right).

  • <p>Chris Silva was the first African-American swimmer to make the U.S. National team (Team Captain, UCLA, 1982). </p>
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    Chris Silva

    Chris Silva was the first African-American swimmer to make the U.S. National team (Team Captain, UCLA, 1982).

  • <p>Fred Evans was the first African-American swimmer to win a national collegiate championship (Chicago State, 1975, 100 Breast). (Photo not available) </p>
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    Fred Evans

    Fred Evans was the first African-American swimmer to win a national collegiate championship (Chicago State, 1975, 100 Breast). (Photo not available)

  • <p>Nate Clark was the first African-American swimmer to score in an NCAA Championship final (1962, Ohio state, 200 Fly). (Photo not available) </p>
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    Nate Clark

    Nate Clark was the first African-American swimmer to score in an NCAA Championship final (1962, Ohio state, 200 Fly). (Photo not available)

  • <p>Andrew Young was the first African-American swimmer to receive The International Swimming Hall of Fame's medallion of honor (1952-1956, Howard University). </p>
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    Andrew Young

    Andrew Young was the first African-American swimmer to receive The International Swimming Hall of Fame's medallion of honor (1952-1956, Howard University).

  • <p>Maritza (Correia) McClendon is the first African-American female swimmer to set an American and world swimming record (2002, NCAA championships, 50 and 100 Free); First African-American Female to make the US Olympic Swim team (2004); First black female swimmer to win a NCAA Division I Championship (2002, Georgia, 50 Free); First African-American female to win an Olympic medal (2004 Olympic Games, 400 Free Relay). </p>
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    Maritza (Correia) McClendon

    Maritza (Correia) McClendon is the first African-American female swimmer to set an American and world swimming record (2002, NCAA championships, 50 and 100 Free); First African-American Female to make the US Olympic Swim team (2004); First black female swimmer to win a NCAA Division I Championship (2002, Georgia, 50 Free); First African-American female to win an Olympic medal (2004 Olympic Games, 400 Free Relay).

  • <p>Cullen Jones was the first African-American male to hold a world record in swimming as a member of the 4x100m during the 2006 Pan Pacific Championships in Victoria, British Columbia. </p>
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    Cullen Jones

    Cullen Jones was the first African-American male to hold a world record in swimming as a member of the 4x100m during the 2006 Pan Pacific Championships in Victoria, British Columbia.

<p>20-year-old Simone Manuel became the first black female swimmer to win an Olympic medal for America when she tied for first place in the 100m freestyle. </p>
<p>Alia Atkinson was the first African-American woman to win a world title in swimming (2015, 100 m breaststroke, world short course swimming championship, Doha). </p>
<p>Anthony Ervin was the first African-American swimmer to make a U.S. Olympic swimming team (2000 Sydney Olympic Games). </p>
<p>Alison Terry was the first African-American female swimmer to make a U.S. national team (1999, Pan American Games). </p>
<p>Sabir Muhammad was the first African-American swimmer to set an American record (1997, Stanford University, 100 Fly). </p>
<p>Anthony Nesty was the first swimmer of African descent to win an Olympic gold medal (1988, Seoul, 100 Fly); First male swimmer of African descent to win an NCAA Div. I Championship (1990-1992, 100 Fly). </p>
<p>Enith Brigitha of the Netherlands was the first swimmer of African descent to win an Olympic medal (1976, Montreal, 100 Free). </p>
<p>Sybil Smith was the first African-American female swimmer to score in an NCAA final (1988, Boston University, 100 Back). Her daughter is tennis star Sloane Stephens (right). </p>
<p>Chris Silva was the first African-American swimmer to make the U.S. National team (Team Captain, UCLA, 1982). </p>
<p>Fred Evans was the first African-American swimmer to win a national collegiate championship (Chicago State, 1975, 100 Breast). (Photo not available) </p>
<p>Nate Clark was the first African-American swimmer to score in an NCAA Championship final (1962, Ohio state, 200 Fly). (Photo not available) </p>
<p>Andrew Young was the first African-American swimmer to receive The International Swimming Hall of Fame's medallion of honor (1952-1956, Howard University). </p>
<p>Maritza (Correia) McClendon is the first African-American female swimmer to set an American and world swimming record (2002, NCAA championships, 50 and 100 Free); First African-American Female to make the US Olympic Swim team (2004); First black female swimmer to win a NCAA Division I Championship (2002, Georgia, 50 Free); First African-American female to win an Olympic medal (2004 Olympic Games, 400 Free Relay). </p>
<p>Cullen Jones was the first African-American male to hold a world record in swimming as a member of the 4x100m during the 2006 Pan Pacific Championships in Victoria, British Columbia. </p>

Simone Manuel became the first black female swimmer to win an individual Olympic medal for America when she tied for first place in the 100m freestyle. The 20-year-old swimmer joins a growing list of African-Americans paving the way in the sport. (Captions and stats courtesy of USA Swimming)