USA Fencing

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Athletes and leaders from four national sports governing bodies will gather on Zoom this February to discuss “Blackness in the Olympic and Paralympic Movement.”

The Feb. 23 panel discussion is hosted by USA Fencing in partnership with the Aspire to Inspire Initiative, founded by foil fencer Iman Blow. 

Blow will moderate the discussion among these panelists:

• Three-time Olympian Daryl Homer OLY, USA Fencing

• Masters Rower and Coach Rebekah Armstrong, USRowing  

• Director of DEI Programs Leland Brown, USA Swimming

• Five-time World Champion Khalif El-Salaam, USA Ultimate

The conversation will focus on the Black experience within the Olympic and Paralympic movement. Blow will lead the group through a discussion of topics like: 

• Activism and allyship 

• Black authenticity

• Expanding access to Olympic and Paralympic sports 

• Increasing representation in Olympic and Paralympic sports

“Black people have historically and are continuing to thrive in ‘nontraditional’ sports,” says Shannon Jolly, USA Fencing’s senior manager of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. “It's up to us to highlight the contributions and achievements of this community. This conversation will hopefully inspire future generations of Black people in the Olympic and Paralympic movement.”

To register for the panel discussion, go here.