Thank you for this. I love to swim and do so at least three times a week. When I was in HS, I got a bootleg medical excuse from swimming because I didn't know how to handle an afro between 4th and 5th periods. When I used to relax my hair (then roll it up), I didn't swim often because I would lose my curls in the middle of the work week. Now, I wear my hair naturally, and I am FINALLY able to just swim whenever I want. It's incredible how my hair has affected my love for swimming (and other things). My hair is not long and fits into regular swim caps, but there are special caps for long hair. The IOC is hypocritical as well as just plain wrong. I will get a Soul Cap, just 'cause.