NATALIE HINDS

Natalie Hinds wants to break down stereotypes by continuing to push for diversity within swimming.

Natalie has a great list of accomplishments including a world relay title and Olympic bronze medal despite having spent two years away from the pool following the 2016 Olympic Trials.

Her talents extend beyond the water and she launched her own small business called Loominary Design, where she handcrafts designer tapestries.

She is also passionate about using her platform to inspire and teach Black people to swim.

“Black people not swimming is a stereotypical thing,” she told two-time Olympic medallist Elizabeth Beisel and CG Sports Management.

“Teaching kids is how I want to use my platform and break the barrier with older Black people who don’t know how to swim and feel like they shouldn’t be in the water.”

Natalie has been an active voice in the Black Lives Matter movement, bringing her experience and unique perspective in the predominantly white sport of swimming.

She was also a member of the trio of African American women that swept the top three spots at the 2015 NCAA Championships in the 100 freestyle, alongside Simone Manuel and Lia Neal.

It was a pioneering moment and one that took her a long time to put in perspective.

“I was still on competition mode and I wish I spent more time to bask in being a part of history,” she said.

“When it hit me that I could inspire someone to go into our sport, that is huge. It took me until after college to realise I had the platform for this.”