In the 1980s, more than 20 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) had competitive swim teams or aquatics programs. Today, only one remains—Howard University, home to the nation’s sole Division I HBCU swim program.
This decline reflects decades of underinvestment, facility closures, and systemic barriers to access that have shaped generational disparities in swimming participation and water safety. Diversity in Aquatics is working to reverse that trend by rebuilding the pipeline from learn-to-swim to collegiate competition—supporting HBCUs, expanding representation, and ensuring that aquatic spaces reflect the full diversity of our communities.
In partnership with USA Swimming and its HBCU Grant Program, we collaborate with colleges and universities to revive aquatics programming, provide water-safety education, and help reestablish sustainable swim programs that honor HBCU legacy while creating new pathways for the next generation of student-athletes.
Tour of Champions is DIA’s signature community outreach initiative during Celebration Bowl Week—an interactive series of school visits that bring Olympic medalists, HBCU swimmers, and community leaders directly to students.
The tour promotes water safety, representation, and leadership through engaging conversations, demonstrations, and storytelling.
Students meet athletes who look like them, learn essential water-safety principles, and see how swimming connects to health, confidence, and community. The Tour builds awareness and excitement leading into the Water Safety Festival, Developmental Meet, and HBCU Alumni Swim Meet, turning visibility into action for the next generation of swimmers and water-safe families.
Friday, December 12, 2025
Location: Morehouse College
Water Safety Festival is DIA’s hands-on community event designed to raise awareness and teach life-saving water skills through immersive, in-water experiences.
Participants rotate through interactive stations offering basic swimming and water-safety skills, compression-only CPR, personal flotation device training, and introductions to activities such as rowing, scuba, aqua aerobics, triathlon, and rescue techniques. Each festival is designed in collaboration with local partners, with programming tailored to community needs and available resources—no two festivals are exactly alike.
The event connects participants with local swim programs for continued instruction and empowers families to stay safe, confident, and active in and around the water.
Friday, December 12, 2025
Location: Morehouse College
Developmental Swim Meet is DIA’s inclusive entry point for emerging swimmers—an opportunity for youth, learn-to-swim participants, and new athletes to experience the excitement of competitive swimming in a fun, supportive environment.
Held in conjunction with the Water Safety Festival, the meet emphasizes skill development, confidence building, and representation over medals or times. Guided by Olympians, HBCU athletes, and certified coaches, participants learn racing fundamentals, teamwork, and sportsmanship while celebrating progress at every level.
The Developmental Meet embodies DIA’s mission to expand access and nurture the next generation of swimmers prepared to move from community pools to collegiate lanes.
Saturday, December 13, 2025
Location: Morehouse College
The History of Aquatics at HBCUs is a story of resilience, innovation, and cultural pride. From the early 1900s through the civil rights era, Historically Black Colleges and Universities played a vital role in breaking barriers to water access—building pools, launching competitive swim teams, and training generations of aquatic leaders when segregation excluded Black swimmers elsewhere. At its height in the 1980s, more than 20 HBCUs had active aquatics programs; today, only Howard University remains with a Division I swim team, symbolizing both endurance and excellence.
In partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), Diversity in Aquatics is reimagining POOL: A Social History of Segregation and amplifying this history through the documentary When Everyone Swims—two powerful storytelling platforms that bring visibility to the cultural, historical, and health dimensions of Black participation in aquatics. Together, they preserve the legacy of HBCU swimming while inspiring a new generation to reclaim the water as a space of belonging, leadership, and excellence.
Come experience the reimagined POOL: A Social History of Segregation—an immersive exhibit exploring the intersection of water, history, and belonging. Presented in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the exhibit will be on display December 10–13 in the Omni Atlanta Hotel lobby, free and open to the public.
Swimming with the Stars, presented with Jack and Jill of America, Inc. (JJSwims), is an intergenerational activation that spans all Morehouse events and online platforms during Celebration Bowl Week. This collaborative initiative unites Olympians, celebrities, and community leaders to inspire youth and families through visibility, leadership, and water safety. Together, Diversity in Aquatics and JJSwims are transforming representation into action—creating a movement that celebrates culture, promotes confidence in the water, and builds a legacy of safety and inclusion for generations to come.
