Friday, February 26, 2021
Black History Month Trailblazers: Chris Silva
Photo courtesy of Tim Morse Photography
Chris Silva became the first Black athlete to earn a spot on the USA Swimming National Team as well as the first Black swimmer to represent the United States in international competition at the World University Games in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 1983.
Silva grew up in a then all-white community in Menlo Park, California where his family moved so he could pursue his love of swimming and water polo.
“My mom had to find a white family to buy our house and we bought it from them," Silva said in an interview with the Florida Sun-Sentinel.
"There were a lot of things my mom kept away from me knowing prejudice would affect my performance, so I was never faced or confronted with it," Silva said. "When there were problems and someone copped an attitude, it motivated me even more to beat them."
And he would continue to prove the naysayers wrong as he went on to become a star on the UCLA swim team. Bruin coach Ron Ballatore said in an interview with Sports Illustrated, "In the 1982 NCAA meet, he improved his 100-yard best from 45.0 to 43.6 in the relay, and that gave us the title." Silva was an All-American from 1982-1984, competing in the 400-yard medley relay where he set an American record in 1982. He also swam the 400, 100 and 50-yard freestyle events.
Silva missed qualifying for the 1984 Olympic Team in the 100-meter freestyle by .4 seconds. From then on he would dedicate his life to encouraging young diverse athletes to enter the sport he loved.
In 1990, Silva became the Director of Minority Programs at the International Swimming Hall of Fame. He died later that same year in a car accident at the age of 28.
Chris Silva became the first Black athlete to earn a spot on the USA Swimming National Team as well as the first Black swimmer to represent the United States in international competition at the World University Games in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 1983.
Silva grew up in a then all-white community in Menlo Park, California where his family moved so he could pursue his love of swimming and water polo.
“My mom had to find a white family to buy our house and we bought it from them," Silva said in an interview with the Florida Sun-Sentinel.
"There were a lot of things my mom kept away from me knowing prejudice would affect my performance, so I was never faced or confronted with it," Silva said. "When there were problems and someone copped an attitude, it motivated me even more to beat them."
And he would continue to prove the naysayers wrong as he went on to become a star on the UCLA swim team. Bruin coach Ron Ballatore said in an interview with Sports Illustrated, "In the 1982 NCAA meet, he improved his 100-yard best from 45.0 to 43.6 in the relay, and that gave us the title." Silva was an All-American from 1982-1984, competing in the 400-yard medley relay where he set an American record in 1982. He also swam the 400, 100 and 50-yard freestyle events.
Silva missed qualifying for the 1984 Olympic Team in the 100-meter freestyle by .4 seconds. From then on he would dedicate his life to encouraging young diverse athletes to enter the sport he loved.
In 1990, Silva became the Director of Minority Programs at the International Swimming Hall of Fame. He died later that same year in a car accident at the age of 28.