Alia Atkinson Becomes 1st Black Woman to Win World Title in Swimming

Alia Atkinson made swimming history on Saturday by becoming the first black woman to win a world swimming title: the women’s 100 breaststroke at the world short-course championships in Doha, Qatar. Suggested Reading What’s 2025’s Black Song of The Summer? The Answer Will Surprise You Details Surrounding the Death of Michael Jackson, Explained Β Why Black…

Alia Atkinson made swimming history on Saturday by becoming the first black woman to win a world swimming title: the women’s 100 breaststroke at the world short-course championships in Doha, Qatar.

Video will return here when scrolled back into view

Atkinson, who swims for Jamaica, tied the world record with a time of 1 minute, 2.36 seconds, which, according to the standards of the international swimming governing body FINA, counts as its own record. Even Atkinson was surprised at her win.

β€œI couldn’t believe it. It came down to the same thing as the 50, and on the 50 I got out-touched, so in my mind I went straight back to that,” Atkinson told Agence France-Presse after the race. β€œI just thought, β€˜Oh, OK’ and looked up at the board, and it didn’t really click yet and then it really started to click. It took a while.”

The win was also Jamaica’s first gold in world swimming championships.

Atkinson hopes her win will inspire other women in the Caribbean to take up swimming as a sport. β€œHopefully my face will come out, there will be more popularity, especially in Jamaica and the Caribbean, and we’ll see more of a rise, and hopefully in the future we will see a push,” she said, The TelegraphΒ reported.

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.