Tuesday, May 31, 2022
National Diversity Select Camp Athletes Reflect on Camp Meaning and Importance of Diversity in Swimming
For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, USA Swimming held an in-person National Diversity Select Camp at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Fifty-three athletes from underrepresented populations participated in a three-day program which included pool training, motivational and educational sessions as well as team-building activities. The goals of the camp are to empower athletes from diverse backgrounds and underrepresented populations to:
Attendees had to apply for the camp and selection was based on times achieved at USA Swimming sanctioned events. All selected athletes were provided lodging, meals, ground transportation to/from the airport and full airfare.
This year, attendees reflected on what the camp means to them and how their diversity is empowering in our sport.
Melissa Blaine (Swim Florida)
Langston Duncan (Eagles Swim Team)
Grant Hu (Metroplex Aquatics)
Melia Lee (Aulea Swim Club)
Sage Miller (Kamehameha Swim Club)
Annam Olaswere (Chelsea Piers Aquatic Club)
Sala Yasumi (Kamehameha Swim Club)
Emese Szekely (Mission Viejo Nadadores)
Why did you decide to attend the National Diversity Select Camp?
M. Blaine: “I came here because I heard it was a great experience. When I got selected, I was excited to have this amazing opportunity.”
L. Duncan: “My coach and other mentors had told me about their experience at the camp and it inspired me to be a part of something bigger than myself.”
G. Hu: “I was so excited to meet people who are just like me, who are minorities, while also coming to swim at the [Olympic & Paralympic] Training Center. It’s been an experience of a lifetime. I am so excited to be part of this inclusive swimming organization and I look forward to more opportunities.”
M. Lee: “I chose National Diversity Select Camp because I was really excited to meet diverse swimmers but also very excited to train at this amazing Olympic facility. When I applied, I saw it as an amazing opportunity to grow my swimming experience and learn from some of the best coaches.”
S. Miller: “I came to the National Diversity Select Camp because my friends have come to this camp in previous years and they said the camp was an amazing experience to train at the Olympic Training Center and inspire kids like us to follow our dreams in our swimming careers while also meeting other people with diverse backgrounds.”
A. Olaswere: “I chose National Diversity Select Camp because it seemed like an awesome opportunity to see, practice and race with groups of people who are more diverse than I’m used to. It was great because I finally got to swim with people who look like me at such an elite facility in Colorado Springs.”
E. Szekely: “My coach told me to sign up for the National Diversity Select Camp and I did though I never thought I would actually make it. Though I saw this as an amazing opportunity to learn new ways and meet new people, and of course go to the Olympic Training Center.”
S. Yasumi: “I chose this camp because it creates amazing experiences and it helped me meet various people with different backgrounds. I also really liked what this camp stands for, because it teaches swimmers of diversity and multi-nationality that they aren’t overshadowed and can achieve greatness.”
How was the camp experience?
M. Blaine: “The experience was what I wanted and so much more. The friends I made, the classes I learned from and the practices I swam I will remember for the rest of my life.”
L. Duncan: “My camp experience at the National Diversity Select Camp was eye opening and motivating to practice, bond and get better with athletes of incredibly diverse backgrounds. We improved not only as athletes, but as people. The incredible guest speakers also gave us life-long advice.”
G. Hu: “It was empowering getting to meet people from all over the country who have similar aspirations to me. . . It has taught me that we are stronger together and that inclusion is important.”
M. Lee: “This camp experience was very fun and encouraging. As an athlete, meeting other amazing, fast and diverse swimmers pushed me to be competitive, learn more from my peers and coaches, and made me proud to represent Hawaii and USA Swimming.”
S. Miller: “This camp was very fun and an amazing experience to train at the Olympic Training Center. I got to meet a lot of extraordinary people, such as my teammates, who I’ve now become good friends with. The food was also very good.”
A. Olaswere: “This was an amazing swimming experience because I not only got to swim with a diverse group of swimmers, but got to make so many diverse friends that I will hopefully stay in touch with when I’m older.”
E. Szekely: “It was an incredible experience that I am extremely grateful for. It was so inspiring to meet so many people from so many different cultures and places. Everyone has special talents and skills that when everyone came together, we created a dream team. No one was the same but we also had such similar goals that really pushed us to be our best.”
S. Yasumi: “This camp experience was very enjoyable and lively. It gave me a new perspective on diversity and inclusion, and it was inspiring and it encouraged me to persevere and continue to try my best in this sport. I am so honored to have gone to this camp and meet these inspiring swimmers, coaches and guest speakers.”
In an “I am” statement, who are you?
M. Blaine: “I am a distance swimmer/IMer and I’m proud to represent the Portuguese and Hispanic community.”
L. Duncan: “I am a Black man who swims and [am] not only proud to represent my ethnicity but also USA Swimming.”
G. Hu: “I am an Asian-American swimmer from Texas who now despises high-altitude training.”
M. Lee: “I am a determined freestyle sprinter who is a Hawaiian swimmer and proud.”
S. Miller: “I am a female Asian swimmer from Hawaii and I am proud of who I am.”
A. Olaswere: “I am a tenacious, Nigerian female swimmer from frosty Connecticut.”
E. Szekely: “I am a hardworking European athlete and I am extremely proud of the person I am becoming.”
S. Yasumi: “I am a Japanese-American swimmer from Hawaii who hates the cold.”
Fifty-three athletes from underrepresented populations participated in a three-day program which included pool training, motivational and educational sessions as well as team-building activities. The goals of the camp are to empower athletes from diverse backgrounds and underrepresented 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.
Attendees had to apply for the camp and selection was based on times achieved at USA Swimming sanctioned events. All selected athletes were provided lodging, meals, ground transportation to/from the airport and full airfare.
This year, attendees reflected on what the camp means to them and how their diversity is empowering in our sport.
Melissa Blaine (Swim Florida)
Langston Duncan (Eagles Swim Team)
Grant Hu (Metroplex Aquatics)
Melia Lee (Aulea Swim Club)
Sage Miller (Kamehameha Swim Club)
Annam Olaswere (Chelsea Piers Aquatic Club)
Sala Yasumi (Kamehameha Swim Club)
Emese Szekely (Mission Viejo Nadadores)
Why did you decide to attend the National Diversity Select Camp?
M. Blaine: “I came here because I heard it was a great experience. When I got selected, I was excited to have this amazing opportunity.”
L. Duncan: “My coach and other mentors had told me about their experience at the camp and it inspired me to be a part of something bigger than myself.”
G. Hu: “I was so excited to meet people who are just like me, who are minorities, while also coming to swim at the [Olympic & Paralympic] Training Center. It’s been an experience of a lifetime. I am so excited to be part of this inclusive swimming organization and I look forward to more opportunities.”
M. Lee: “I chose National Diversity Select Camp because I was really excited to meet diverse swimmers but also very excited to train at this amazing Olympic facility. When I applied, I saw it as an amazing opportunity to grow my swimming experience and learn from some of the best coaches.”
S. Miller: “I came to the National Diversity Select Camp because my friends have come to this camp in previous years and they said the camp was an amazing experience to train at the Olympic Training Center and inspire kids like us to follow our dreams in our swimming careers while also meeting other people with diverse backgrounds.”
A. Olaswere: “I chose National Diversity Select Camp because it seemed like an awesome opportunity to see, practice and race with groups of people who are more diverse than I’m used to. It was great because I finally got to swim with people who look like me at such an elite facility in Colorado Springs.”
E. Szekely: “My coach told me to sign up for the National Diversity Select Camp and I did though I never thought I would actually make it. Though I saw this as an amazing opportunity to learn new ways and meet new people, and of course go to the Olympic Training Center.”
S. Yasumi: “I chose this camp because it creates amazing experiences and it helped me meet various people with different backgrounds. I also really liked what this camp stands for, because it teaches swimmers of diversity and multi-nationality that they aren’t overshadowed and can achieve greatness.”
How was the camp experience?
M. Blaine: “The experience was what I wanted and so much more. The friends I made, the classes I learned from and the practices I swam I will remember for the rest of my life.”
L. Duncan: “My camp experience at the National Diversity Select Camp was eye opening and motivating to practice, bond and get better with athletes of incredibly diverse backgrounds. We improved not only as athletes, but as people. The incredible guest speakers also gave us life-long advice.”
G. Hu: “It was empowering getting to meet people from all over the country who have similar aspirations to me. . . It has taught me that we are stronger together and that inclusion is important.”
M. Lee: “This camp experience was very fun and encouraging. As an athlete, meeting other amazing, fast and diverse swimmers pushed me to be competitive, learn more from my peers and coaches, and made me proud to represent Hawaii and USA Swimming.”
S. Miller: “This camp was very fun and an amazing experience to train at the Olympic Training Center. I got to meet a lot of extraordinary people, such as my teammates, who I’ve now become good friends with. The food was also very good.”
A. Olaswere: “This was an amazing swimming experience because I not only got to swim with a diverse group of swimmers, but got to make so many diverse friends that I will hopefully stay in touch with when I’m older.”
E. Szekely: “It was an incredible experience that I am extremely grateful for. It was so inspiring to meet so many people from so many different cultures and places. Everyone has special talents and skills that when everyone came together, we created a dream team. No one was the same but we also had such similar goals that really pushed us to be our best.”
S. Yasumi: “This camp experience was very enjoyable and lively. It gave me a new perspective on diversity and inclusion, and it was inspiring and it encouraged me to persevere and continue to try my best in this sport. I am so honored to have gone to this camp and meet these inspiring swimmers, coaches and guest speakers.”
In an “I am” statement, who are you?
M. Blaine: “I am a distance swimmer/IMer and I’m proud to represent the Portuguese and Hispanic community.”
L. Duncan: “I am a Black man who swims and [am] not only proud to represent my ethnicity but also USA Swimming.”
G. Hu: “I am an Asian-American swimmer from Texas who now despises high-altitude training.”
M. Lee: “I am a determined freestyle sprinter who is a Hawaiian swimmer and proud.”
S. Miller: “I am a female Asian swimmer from Hawaii and I am proud of who I am.”
A. Olaswere: “I am a tenacious, Nigerian female swimmer from frosty Connecticut.”
E. Szekely: “I am a hardworking European athlete and I am extremely proud of the person I am becoming.”
S. Yasumi: “I am a Japanese-American swimmer from Hawaii who hates the cold.”