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The University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, has launched a segregated pool activity called “Black Folx Swim,” which expressly excludes participation by non-black swimmers. “The aim is to get more Black Folx into a space where they haven’t always been welcomed, while providing them the opportunity to learn swimming skills,” the school’s website states. Swimming lessons are taught exclusively by “experienced black swimmers/instructors,” the site adds, noting that the segregated pool time “is dedicated to building a better relationship with water for the Black community.”

On Friday, October 20, a 50-year-old male named Nicholas J. Cepeda (who goes by "Melody Wiseheart") participated in a swimming competition at Markham Pan Am Centre - a city near Toronto. "Melody Wiseheart" was different than the rest of his competitors. That's because "Melody" was competing against 13 and 14-year-old girls. Rightfully concerned parents initially tipped off Rebel News, so they pursued the story and paid the center a visit on October 22. The Richmond Hill Aquatic Centre's Fall Classic swimming competition initially denied the 50-year-old man's participation, even though Rebel had presented a copy of the Friday schedule that...

Lia Thomas on Thursday night became the first transgender athlete to be crowned National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) champion, winning the 500 yard freestyle in Georgia - to a silent crowd. Thomas, 22, scorched her competitors in Atlanta with a 4 minutes 33:24 second race - much to the chagrin of some of her teammates, and to those in the stands, who remained quiet as she won.

Cows missing for two months were located on North Carolina’s Outer Banks after ‘mini tsunami’ carried wildlife away... They were presumed dead, but Cape Lookout National Seashore staff spotted one of the cows on another barrier island a month after the storm. That sighting was followed by two more, apparently grazing peaceably. A picture of the rangy-looking trio is now on Facebook. Cows are recognized as adept swimmers comfortable with covering a few hundred yards. But swimming miles of open water in a hurricane is outside their general range of expertise.

Bella just wasn’t ready to go home. A YouTube video posted by Laura Gibbs shows her German Shepherd Bella’s hilarious reaction when her owner tries to get her out of the water. Bella’s cries that she didn’t want to leave were ultimately successful.

**SNIP** “Every year the models get higher,” said Stefanie Herweck, chair of the RGV Sierra Club, noting that the more climate scientists learn about the impact of fossil fuels on climate, the higher they predict sea level rise will be within the next century. Current estimates predict the sea level of the Gulf of Mexico to increase by three feet by the year 2100, but Herweck said scientists have suggested that is a conservative estimate. Without curtailing fossil fuel use and its impact on climate, the polar ice caps could melt faster, leading to significant sea level rise within the...

This is the extraordinary moment a cheeky seal pup tailed two dogs while they were having a swim - before trying to join in on their fun. Playful dogs Bolle and Coco were busy cooling off in the sea after a long walk when behind them a mysterious shape appeared to follow them. And when the adventurous seal decided he wanted to take the lead and join them splashing around, Coco looked stunned as she came face-to-face with the pup. ...

A swimming coach has resigned after he was allegedly caught on camera pulling a schoolgirl from the pool by her hair after she did not swim fast enough. The shocking footage appears to show the assistant coach at Roseville High School, California, reach down into the water and grab the 17-year-old girl’s hair after her team finished fifth out of six in a competition. Coach Geoff Capell was reportedly unhappy that the captain of the varsity team Jennifer McCarroll and another girl were not giving the race their best effort. The video has caused outrage after it was posted online...

President Barack Obama wanted to convince America that the Gulf of Mexico remains open for business. But perhaps he didn't want the world to catch another glimpse of his hairless chest. President Barack Obama wanted to convince America that the Gulf of Mexico remains open for business. But perhaps he didn't want the world to catch another glimpse of his hairless chest. So when he and his daughter, Sasha, took a dip in the sea off Florida this weekend, only the White House photographer was allowed to capture proceedings. The official picture was intended to provide evidence that the region's...

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More than 60 campers from Northeast Philadelphia were turned away from a private swim club and left to wonder if their race was the reason.Kids at Creative Steps Day Camp were thrilled to go swimming once a week at the Valley Swim Club. But after only one trip to the private club, they were... "I heard this lady, she was like, 'Uh, what are all these black kids doing here?' She's like, 'I'm scared they might do something to my child,'" said camper Dymire Baylor. The Creative Steps Day Camp paid more than $1900 to The Valley Swim Club. The...

OC Family Grateful Editor: Saturday, April 25, 2009 was a beautiful day, and it was made even more wonderful by the outpouring of affection expressed toward Captain Robert S. Craig at his Beach Memorial Service. The Craig children and family appreciate all that was done to honor our “Pop,” a man so many in Ocean City have known and loved for so many years. The Beach Memorial was truly memorable and more special than we could have possibly imagined. We have many people to thank for their efforts in making it happen. We learned very quickly that organizing such an...

(At right) Flanked by friends and family members, a wreath is carried down the beach to be released into the ocean in memory of Craig, "founding father" of the Beach Patrol. Carrying the wreath is the current head of the organization, Capt. Butch Arbin, who is flanked by Craig's son, Robert Craig, and grandson, Christopher Craig. (Above) Sean Williams pushes a surf board, carrying the wreath and the ashes of Capt. Craig, toward a Coast Guard boat, which released the wreath farther from the shore.

News Release: April 8, 2009 Memorial Service planned to honor Captain Robert S. Craig Ocean City, MD – A memorial service for Captain Robert (Bob) S. Craig will be held 3 p.m. Saturday, April 25 on the beach at North Division Street. Captain Craig passed away on Saturday, March 28 at the age of 90. Captain Craig joined the Ocean City Beach Patrol in 1935 and served as its captain from 1946 until retiring in 1987. Captain Craig is credited with building the Ocean City Beach Patrol into the professional organization it is known as today. When Captain Craig turned...

(April 3, 2009) The man who not only epitomized the Ocean City Beach Patrol, but also built it into a serious and professional organization, passed away Saturday. When Capt. Robert (Bob) S. Craig turned 90 last July, a competition, dinner and slide show honored him for his 52 years as a town employee and member of the Beach Patrol. Thousands knew Craig from his years guiding the Beach Patrol and taking it from a small, relatively unskilled group of young men to a large group of highly skilled young men and women. Capt. Butch Arbin, the current head of the...

OCEAN CITY – Ocean City lost a treasured icon this week when Captain Robert S. Craig, who shepherded the Beach Patrol through decades of change and inspired his young charges for half a century passed away at the age of 90. Captain Craig, as he was known for decades not only by the thousands of lifeguards who worked with him and for him but also by the countless millions of local residents and visitors to the resort area, passed away last Saturday at the Coastal Hospice in Salisbury at the age of 90. A former schoolteacher and coach, Captain Craig...

HONG KONG (AFP) - US swim legend Mark Spitz won't be on hand in Beijing if Michael Phelps breaks his record of seven gold medals at a single Olympics—because, he says, no one bothered to invite him. Spitz said the International Olympic Committee, a US television network or FINA—the international body that governs world swimming—should have brought him to the Games this year, with Phelps making a go at his record.

Becky Adlington made it a golden day for British swimming when she swam her way to becoming an Olympic champion in the 400m freestyle and Jo Jackson made it even better, putting the icing on the cake by finishing third.

From where the other three members of this relay team stood, they watched along with everyone else inside the Water Cube as Lezak -- self-described "late-bloomer," a 32-year-old graybeard in a peachfuzz sport -- hauled off after Bernaird, the chatty Frenchmen, for what was surely a fruitless pursuit, what was sure to be a prophesy fulfilled. After all, it was Bernard who'd proclaimed defiantly in the days leading up to this showdown: "The Americans? We're going to smash them. That's what we came here for."

If Michael Phelps goes on to win eight gold medals in the Olympic swimming competition at the Water Cube, he will owe a huge debt of gratitude to teammate Jason Lezak. No, make that HUGE. In one of the greatest anchor legs in swimming history, Lezak reeled in boastful Frenchman Alain Bernard in the final 50 meters to bring the United States home to a breathtaking victory in world-record time in the 4x100 freestyle relay to provide a riveting finish to this morning's program. "It was a crazy thing to watch," said Garrett Weber-Gale, who swam the second leg for...