Thursday, February 25, 2021
Black History Month Trailblazers: Alison Terry
Despite never realizing her passion to swim in the Olympics, Alison Terry came as close as anyone to fulfilling that dream.
Developing from a promising high school swimmer to an international competitor, Terry postponed college for a year to attempt history and become the first African-American to earn a spot on the 1992 Olympic Team but came up short.
Later, Terry accepted a full scholarship to the University of Tennessee and following her freshman year, she left Knoxville and returned to California where she stopped swimming.
Five years later, however, she returned to the pool, making a great comeback by winning her first international medal as a member of the 400 freestyle relay during the World University Games.
At the 2000 Olympic Trials, she just missed making the final of the 50 freestyle. Terry would still have an opportunity to make history, doing so when she became the first African-American elected to the USA Swimming Board of Directors.
Leading up to 2000 Trials, Terry engaged the media in as much publicity as possible to raise awareness about the lack of opportunities for Black communities. And even though her Olympic dream ended, she continued her crusade to increase diversity throughout the swimming community.
Shortly thereafter, she began implementing swimming programs in San Diego’s inner-city schools, educating elementary school students on beach safety and assisting with lesson programs.
In 2000, with encouragement from Terry, along with her husband and mother, San Diego officials agreed to keep inner-city pools open year-round for the first time. In 2005, she was honored alongside sports heroes Muhammad Ali and Magic Johnson, in addition to Olympian Larsen Jensen, at the Aquatic Foundation of Metropolitan Los Angeles.
Developing from a promising high school swimmer to an international competitor, Terry postponed college for a year to attempt history and become the first African-American to earn a spot on the 1992 Olympic Team but came up short.
Later, Terry accepted a full scholarship to the University of Tennessee and following her freshman year, she left Knoxville and returned to California where she stopped swimming.
Five years later, however, she returned to the pool, making a great comeback by winning her first international medal as a member of the 400 freestyle relay during the World University Games.
At the 2000 Olympic Trials, she just missed making the final of the 50 freestyle. Terry would still have an opportunity to make history, doing so when she became the first African-American elected to the USA Swimming Board of Directors.
Leading up to 2000 Trials, Terry engaged the media in as much publicity as possible to raise awareness about the lack of opportunities for Black communities. And even though her Olympic dream ended, she continued her crusade to increase diversity throughout the swimming community.
Shortly thereafter, she began implementing swimming programs in San Diego’s inner-city schools, educating elementary school students on beach safety and assisting with lesson programs.
In 2000, with encouragement from Terry, along with her husband and mother, San Diego officials agreed to keep inner-city pools open year-round for the first time. In 2005, she was honored alongside sports heroes Muhammad Ali and Magic Johnson, in addition to Olympian Larsen Jensen, at the Aquatic Foundation of Metropolitan Los Angeles.