Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

USA Swimming is committed to increasing multicultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity at all levels of the sport to achieve and foster an inclusive swimming environment. In following with this commitment, Minnesota Swimming has established the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Committee.

The Mission Statement of the DEI Committee is as follows:

"USA and MN Swimming are committed to a culture of diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity.  We welcome and ensure swimmers are able to participate to their fullest ability regardless of race, age, income, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation and mental or physical disability."
 

USA Swimming Central Zone Diversity Select Camp

The purpose of the camp is to create an atmosphere of Motivation and Educational opportunities for athletes of underrepresented cultural, ethnic and socioeconomic groups to develop the necessary Leadership skills to achieve Excellence in their sport and their home communities.

National Diversity Select Camp’s objective is to empower athletes from diverse backgrounds and under-represented populations to:
                              • Demonstrate the viability of multicultural success in swimming
                              • Achieve performance excellence at every level of the sport
                              • Expound the benefits and value of participating in the sport of swimming
                              • Be positive leaders and role models that others from multicultural backgrounds can emulate.

The application will be available on this page from January 15-February 19, 2021.

Location: Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center*

Dates:   October 21-24, 2021

*Due to COVID restrictions the date/location of this event are subject to change & may take place virtually.

Qualifying Standards and period:
January 1, 2019 through August 31, 2020. Only LCM times will be considered.  Eligible athletes will be 14-16 years of age*. Age is as of the first day of camp.  

  • Athletes must have achieved at least one National Diversity Select Camp time standard to apply for selection. These times are AAAA National Motivational Times for 13-14 year olds.

 

Additional information including the Athlete application can be found at the link below: 

Swim Camps (usaswimming.org)

Eligibility: Any USA Swimming registered athlete member who is eligible to represent the USA in international competition: a U.S. citizen who has NOT represented another country in international competition, in the case of dual citizens (your sport nation must be the United States), meets the qualification time standards, has not previously attended a USA Swimming Zone or National Diversity Select Camp. Athletes must represent an underrepresented community and/or an ethnically underrepresented population that is less than 10% of the current USA Swimming membership. These populations can include: African American, Hispanic, Asian or Pacific Islander, Native American, LGBTQ+ and others.

Visit the link at the top of the box for more info.

Recent #MNswim athletes selected to participate in the Camp include:

2020: Gabriel Bangoura (EDI), Isabel Espinosa (SCSC), Leobardo Gullien Kenigsberg (FOXJ), Isaac Jeffrey (OMNI), Abba Mayanja (WOLF), Ashley Miranda Limon (NEP), Kamya Smith (WAVE), Ellie Watanabe (AQJT)

Profiles of the 2020 Camp participants can be found here.

USA Swimming National Diversity Select Camp

Each spring, USA Swimming invites 48 athletes from underrepresented populations to participate in a three-day camp program which includes pool training, motivational and education sessions and team-building activities. Selection is based on times swum at USA Swimming sanctioned events. The purpose of this camp is to instill a vision of success and inspire athletes from ethnically under-represented populations to become leaders in the sport of swimming.

The deadline to submit the 2020 National Diversity Select Camp athlete application has passed for this year. 

Recent #MNswim athletes selected to participate in the Camp include:

2020: Audrey Soetanto (AQJT), Evie Wood (MAKO), Yash Salunke (FOXJ)

2019: Claudia Chang (AQJT), Sydney Rogness (MAKO)

An interview with 2019 Select Camp participant Claudia Chang can be found here.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Resources

USA Swimming DEI Resource Bank

USAS SwimClusion Online Store

Black Kids Swim

Black Kids Swim is an organization with a mission to increase Black participation in the sport of competitive swimming.