It seems absurd to say it, but the pivotal element in being able to swim is learning to swim, rather than contesting some imaginary biological sinking factor. According to Swim USA, the official national swimming body, 70 per cent of black people in America cannot swim. A 2008 survey identified the most significant correlates with this statistic, including: having parents and friends who don’t swim; economic reasons (swim teams are mostly extra-curricular and therefore have added financial costs); access to pools and the absence of African American swimming role models.
