Jamaica’s Alia Atkinson Becomes First Black Female Swimmer to Win World Title

Alia Atkinson

This weekend, 25-year old Alia Atkinson from Jamaica became the first black female to win a swimming world title.

Atkinson defeated heavily favored Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania, tying her world record in the 100m breaststroke.

“I realized I was catching up so I was just trying to get a good finish,” she told the official FINA website.

“I’m not used to seeing my name up in number one so it was kind of a shock, but a good one!”

Atkinson finished 4th in the event at the London Olympics.  This was Jamaica’s first swimming gold medal.

H/T: CNN

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