A couple days ago, I wrote about Naji Ali . Ali mentioned Charles “Tuna” Chapman as an inspiration. I thought I’d eventually circle back around and write about Chapman later. Then I got a link to the International Swimming Hall of Fame website.

Turns out, Charles “Tuna” Chapman is a black history figure. Again, I can’t wait til we’re no longer talking about the first black to do this that or the other. Will we get to that point in swimming?

Despite that annoying issue, Chapman’s story is interesting. It took guts to write to Mark Spitz’s coach and tell him he was going to be the Black Mark Spitz. I like how he didn’t give up, even when he didn’t reach that goal. He swam the English Channel! Not a sloppy second. Especially considering how ‘we just don’t swim in open water.’

He also swam butterfly(!) from Alcatraz to Aquatic Park. Do you have any idea how much energy the butterfly takes? 10 years later, he circled Alcatraz swimming the same stroke.

Also very cool: Chapman swam the Manhattan Island Marathon swim one year after the LA Dodgers Vice President used his baseball credentials to pronounce blacks too non buoyant enough to swim.

I love that he didn’t wait for that guy’s permission.