London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 31, 2025

Swimming caps for natural black hair ruled out of Olympic Games

Swimming caps for natural black hair ruled out of Olympic Games

Young black swimmers are "disappointed and heartbroken" by a decision to ban a swimming cap from the Olympics that's made to cover their hair.
Soul Cap say the international governing body for swimming rejected an application for their caps to be certified for use at competitions. They say Fina told them the caps are unsuitable because they don't follow "the natural form of the head".

Soul Cap makes swimming caps to fit over and protect dreadlocks, afros, weaves, hair extensions, braids, and thick and curly hair. One young swimmer said she was "heartbroken but not surprised" by the decision.

Kejai Terrelonge, 17, told Radio 1 Newsbeat that hair-care is one of many barriers she's faced as a black swimmer.

"Using the smaller swimming caps that everyone else would use - it would fit on my head but because I put [protective] oil in my hair, when I was swimming it would just keep sliding off and my hair would get wet," said Kejai, who lives in Birmingham.

Afro hair is naturally drier than other hair because it has fewer cell layers. The sodium hypochlorite - or bleach - found in swimming pools can dry it out more, leading to damage.

Kejai's mum, Keisha Omojowo-Howe, says Soul Caps are "amazing to keep our big hair dry".

She worries Fina's decision could "stop the ripple effect" of black children like Kejai being inspired by swimmers such as Alice Dearing - who will be the first black woman to represent Great Britain in an Olympic swimming event at Tokyo 2020 later this summer.

Alice, 24, hasn't shared her views on the decision by Fina, but in 2019 she told Newsbeat she understood why black girls might quit swimming because of their hair.

And in February this year she said she felt "blessed" to be an ambassador for Soul Cap, "which has recognised a serious issue within the black community worldwide" and is "dispelling the myth that swimming equipment cannot be inclusive".

Soul Cap told Newsbeat that Fina said to their "best knowledge, the athletes competing at the international events never used, neither require to use, caps of such size and configuration".

Fina have neither confirmed nor denied that they made this statement - and have not responded to the BBC's request for comment.

Swimming coach Tony Cronin, 22, says he's "disappointed" by Fina's wording about Soul Caps not following "the natural form of the head".

"It just shows misunderstanding and ignorance," he tells Newsbeat.

"For small swim caps you have to make sure you have your hair braided so it can actually fit in them. Then you worry about getting your hair wet because you'll have to go clean it, condition it, comb it out. It's like a full-time job.

"So to see Soul Cap come out with a hat that actually helps us, but then to be told: 'Yeah, we don't want you to use them,' it's just terrible."
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×