Diving into the swimming craze - Body talk: Black health and fitness - Brief Article

MORE African-Americans are learning the benefits of swimming, whether it's for overall fitness, weight loss and toning or for rehabilitation after surgery. And some African-Americans are becoming competitive, joining swimming clubs and masters programs and participating in national tournaments. For the past 10 years, more African-Americans have gotten into the water for more than just recreation, says Byron Davis, a 31-year-old former University of California swimmer who continues to swim on the University's adult club team.

Enthusiasts like Bernard Lyles, sports coordinator for special events at Chicago State University, are increasing that exposure in a number of ways. Lyles not only swims as part of his training for Ironman Triathlon events, but he is also a member of the Chicago Masters adult swim club and coach of the Tri-Masters youth swim club, which also swims out of Chicago State. "We have more swimmers now," Lyles says. "We now have good programs for the kids who want to swim, and that's been our whole thing. [Black] kids are not exposed to swimming like others."

African-Americans are realizing that swimming is a total body workout that improves cardiovascular condition as well as works and tones muscles simultaneously. And for those looking to slim down and tone, swimming provides a more efficient exercise than lifting weights by attacking every muscle in different ways. "When you lift, you're lifting on a two-dimensional plane because you're just pushing or pulling," Davis says. "The results will plateau. Swimming is on a three-dimensional plane. You're pushing and pulling, but you're attacking the muscle in different angles at different points. No two strokes are the same."

Swimming is also a low-impact exercise, making it perfect for men and women who suffer from joint pain. Jill Bartow, 42, of Kailua on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, suffers from tendinitis in her Achilles' tendons and knees after years of running track and field in high school and at the University of Southern California.

In order to stay in shape, Bartow, a high school track coach, started swimming and running laps in the pool. Bartow found the pool routine so effective that she included swimming as part of rehabilitation for her athletes. "They can do all their training in the water and not have to pound on the concrete," she says. "I find that it works better because you keep them interested. It's painful [for them], but fun."

Bartow, who has undergone a kidney and two liver transplants since 1992, will also compete in the women's 100-meter breaststroke at the National Kidney Foundation's U.S. Transplant Games next month. "I haven't been very competitive in it before, but it got to be kind of fun," Bartow says of swimming.

Swimming also has benefits that reach beyond the body, quickly becoming a "power broker" sport where businessmen meet at health clubs or aquatic centers to exercise and talk shop. And it's a tremendous stress reliever, Davis says. Even though swimming is becoming more social, most, if not all, sound disappears once you're in the water--either from water pushing against the ears or from wearing earplugs (for those susceptible to ear infections). This creates a quiet, meditative solitude. "You can't talk when you swim," Davis says. "It's just you and your thoughts. It's like yoga with a tai chi effect."

People interested in swimming should contact the nearest masters swimming program, recreation center and health club. Masters programs are available to adults of all skill levels and include multiple practices for even the busiest of corporate ladder climbers. Programs and swim clubs are also available for children, allowing parents who are interested the opportunity to introduce their children to the benefits of swimming early in their lives. And more participation means more gold medals and record breakers in the near future. "A couple of my kids have qualified for the Junior Olympics," Lyles says. "All [African-Americans] need is exposure and facilities."