BRAND-NEW SPORTS PROGRAMME TO IMPROVE DIVERSITY IN TRIATHLONS
We are delighted to have joined forces with BADU Sports to launch a brand-new programme for black and ethnic minority children and young people to empower them through sports and help break down barriers associated with triathlons.
In it’s inaugural year the programme will aim to train 100 young male and female athletes aged between 17-29 to compete in their first-ever triathlon – the celebrated London Triathlon on 6-8 August 2022. The programme will commence in March, when swimming instructors will train young people as part of a Swimathon challenge – the UK’s largest annual fundraising swimming event taking place in over 450 swimming pools from 6-8 May 2022.
Figures released by the British Triathlon Federation and Sport England show that:
95% of black adults and 80% of black children in England do not swim (1)
Just 2% of British Triathlon members are black or from ethnic minorities (2)
Swimathon Foundation funded a short film produced by Last Pick Athletics Club “Fear of the Water“. This powerful film explores some of the social and cultural barriers the black community faces when it comes to swimming.
The programme was piloted last year, when five young athletes were supported in completing their first triathlon at Blenheim Palace Triathlon on 11 September 2021.
JAMES ROBINSON, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF LIMELIGHT SPORTS CLUB
“With the support of our partners, we are investing in this project to ensure a legacy is in place for young athletes to access the sport of triathlon. LimeLight sports club are proud to be working with and supporting BADU and there will be more exciting news to come throughout 2022.”
NANA BADU, FOUNDER AND CEO OF BADU SPORTS
“The biggest challenge is the swimming, with some of our athletes starting in a pool and not being confident swimmers, to then confidently swimming 400m in open water. This challenge has tested them in the past, but they have shown true strength and resilience throughout.”
Stay tuned, this is going to be BIG.
Tickets for London Triathlon, Blenheim Palace Triathlon and Swimathon are on sale now!
Discover more about BADU Sports, Swimathon Foundation and Last Pick Athletics Club.
Editors Notes
1 British Triathlon Federation. (2021, October). Diversity in Swim, Bike, Run. https://www.britishtriathlon.org/diversity-in-triathlon
2 Sport England. (2020, January). Sport For All? Why ethnicity and culture matters in sport and physical activity. https://sportengland-production-files.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2020-01/sport-for-all.pdf
