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MORE African-Americans are learning the benefits of swimming, whether it's for overall fitness, weight loss and toning or for rehabilitation after surgery. And some African-Americans are becoming competitive, joining swimming clubs and masters programs and participating in national tournaments. For the past 10 years, more African-Americans have gotten into the water for more than just recreation, says Byron Davis, a 31-year-old former University of California swimmer who continues to swim on the University's adult club team.

Enthusiasts like Bernard Lyles, sports coordinator for special events at Chicago State University, are increasing that exposure in a number of ways. Lyles not only swims as part of his training for Ironman Triathlon events, but he is also a member of the Chicago Masters adult swim club and coach of the Tri-Masters youth swim club, which also swims out of Chicago State. "We have more swimmers now," Lyles says. "We now have good programs for the kids who want to swim, and that's been our whole thing. [Black] kids are not exposed to swimming like others."

African-Americans are realizing that swimming is a total body workout that improves cardiovascular condition as well as works and tones muscles simultaneously. And for those looking to slim down and tone, swimming provides a more efficient exercise than lifting weights by attacking every muscle in different ways. "When you lift, you're lifting on a two-dimensional plane because you're just pushing or pulling," Davis says. "The results will plateau. Swimming is on a three-dimensional plane. You're pushing and pulling, but you're attacking the muscle in different angles at different points. No two strokes are the same."

# posted by Medical Information : 10:45 PM