Olympic swimming history ( Leonard, 2012). These three swimmers rounded out the total of four Black Olympians throughout U.S. Swim Team featured only three Black athletes, Cullen Jones, Anthony Ervin, and Lia Neal ( Leonard, 2012). In a particularly visible example, at the 2012 London Olympic Games the U.S. The incident at the Valley Club highlights a very real and significant racial disparity that exists within the sport and leisure activity of swimming in the United States. Eventually, after a great deal of media attention, community protests, and claims of racism, the Valley Club extended an opportunity to the camp group to finish out their original contract agreement which they did not accept ( Lattanzio, 2009b). and the atmosphere of the club” ( Lattanzio, 2009b). Furthering the idea that campers were banned due to racist sentiments held by the mostly White club members, the club’s president explained in a statement that “there was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion. However, during their time at the club, multiple campers explained to parents and camp staff that they heard pool members and staff making racist remarks while they were enjoying their time at the pool ( Lattanzio, 2009a). The Valley Club claimed that the campers were banned because the facility lacked the capacity or infrastructure to safely accommodate the group as originally anticipated ( Candiotti
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