USA Swimming Announces Multi-Year Partnership with Diversity in Aquatics

Photo Courtesy: USA Swimming

USA Swimming Announces Multi-Year Partnership with Diversity in Aquatics

USA Swimming is entering a muti-year partnership with Diversity in Aquatics, the organizations announced on Thursday.

The partnership is a four-year grant commitment aimed at developing and funding initiatives of justice, access, equity and inclusion in aquatics. Resources from the partnership will include USA Swimming Community Impact grants program, launched in 2021, as well as through aid to community swim teams.

DIA has existed for 10 years. It’s a volunteer-led coalition working to promote water safety, drowning prevention and learn-to-swim access. A grassroots organization, it seeks “to address the impacts of race, socioeconomic circumstances, and cultural stereotyping on the global community,” via education and access to programs.

“Diversity in Aquatics and USA Swimming share a common goal of creating more opportunities in the sport and increasing access to swimming in underrepresented communities,” Joel Shinofield, Managing Director for Sport Development at USA Swimming, said in a press release. “Our partnership will help expand the reach and impact of both organizations to grow the sport. The members of DIA are coaches, educators and leaders in our sport and throughout all of aquatics. We could not be more excited to continue to work with Diversity in Aquatics leadership and its members.”

“We understand the challenges and barriers that have existed in aquatics,” Diversity in Aquatics Executive Director Dr. Miriam Lynch said. “As many of us at Diversity in Aquatics grew up in USA Swimming, we are committed to working alongside this organization to pursue excellence and seek improvement in the sport of swimming. With this partnership, Diversity in Aquatics and its team of diverse researchers, coaches, advocates, and athletes looks forward to doing the work with USA Swimming to promote a more diverse, equitable, accessible, and inclusive community culture in swimming. This partnership is the start of an intentional commitment by the organization to support inclusive growth and provide a safe and positive environment for current and future generations.”

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