It’s funny that I just heard about this swimmer in today’s climate. Last year when reporters referred to youngster Lia Neal as swimming’s Tigress Woods, it was a compliment. She was loathe to accept the comparison last year; I’m sure she wouldn’t want to be near that label with a 10 foot pole this year.

Being part Black and part Chinese was one similarity. The other was excellence in sports. Get this: Lia Neal qualified for the Olympic trials as a 12 year old!

She was 13 by the time the trials rolled around, and she went for it. She finished 28th in the 50 free, and 78th in the 100 free. Not quite good enough to make the team, but time is definitely something on her side now.

I can hardly believe that this young girl is the same age as my son who quit swimming! I shudder to think what I’d have on my hands if he had Lia Neal’s passion. Another random similarity? They’re both learning Chinese.

I was starting to feel like a stalker writing so much about Cullen Jones. But he was the only renowned swimmer of color that is still active in the sport. (that’s not including the open water swimmer Charles Tuna Chapman). I’m so excited to find another swimmer to follow.

Dara Torres ended up going to the Olympics instead of Lia Neal, by the way. I think Neal has many years to catch up with her.