BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY
Maritza Correia
Swimming, Athlete (1981–)
In 2002, Maritza Correia made history when she became the first black woman to break an American record. She later became the first black woman to earn a place on the U.S. Olympic swim team.
Synopsis
Born in Puerto Rico in 1981, Maritza Correia is the first black female swimmer to break an American record, setting new records in both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events at the Women's NCAA Championships in 2002. Two years later, Correia became the first black woman to earn a place on the U.S. Olympic swim team.
Early Life
Born on December 23, 1981, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Maritza Correia is best known for being the first black woman to make the U.S. Olympic swimming team and the first black female swimmer to break an American record. An inspiration to many in the world of competitive sports, Correia grew up in Florida with her parents and two older brothers. Athletics runs in the family. From Guyana, and of Afro-Latin American descent, her parents were educated in England, where her mother played tennis at the University of London, and her father was on the crew team.
At the suggestion of her doctor, Correia started swimming when she was just 7 years old. She had scoliosis, an abnormal curvature of the spine, and swimming helped mitigate the effects of her disorder. Initially therapeutic, swimming soon became Correia's passion.
Foray Into Competitive Swimming
In 1990, Correia joined the Brandon Blue Wave Swim Club, following in the footsteps of older brother Justin. The siblings were sometimes the only black athletes competing in their events. "Probably about 1 percent of U.S. swimmers are black, so it gives you an incentive to go out there and show them that we can do it, too," Correia later said.
At Tampa Bay Technical High School, Correia continued to compete, becoming one of the state's top swimmers. She won the 100-meter freestyle event at the Florida state championships four times and made the 1997 national junior swim team. In 1999, Correia became the U.S. national champion of 50-meter freestyle event for swimmers aged 18 or younger. She graduated high school that year and moved up to college-level swimming competitions while attending the University of Georgia.
After a failed attempt to make the 2000 U.S. Olympic swim team, Correia slipped into a depression, which lasted several months. "The one thing that got me through it was that I had the collegiate season right after the Olympics ... being around my teammates and having their support along with my coaches helped me pull out of it," she told the St. Petersburg Times in 2008.
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Setting Records
Getting back on track, Correia began a training regime consisting of swimming 14,000 meters per day, six days a week. This meant she spent about five hours in the water each day. Her hard work paid off, as she won gold and silver at the 2001 World Championships, in the 800-meter freestyle relay and the 400-meter freestyle relay, respectively. She went on to set two records at the 2002 Women's NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas, in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events—making her the first black woman to set an American record. The following year, Correia brought home another gold medal in the 400-meter freestyle relay at the World Championships.
Making Olympic History
In 2004, Correia made history as the first black woman to earn a place on the U.S. Olympic swim team. She helped secure the silver medal in the 400-meter freestyle relay at the Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. Correia's winning streak continued: She took four gold medals at the 2005 World University Games, in the 50-meter freestyle, 400-meter freestyle relay, 800-meter freestyle relay and 400-meter medley relay.
Early Retirement
Eventually all of the years of strenuous activities began to take it toll on Correia. Even before her Olympic triumph, she had pain in her shoulders. Correia made an impressive showing at the 2007 Pan American Games despite her physical problems, bringing home the gold medal in the 400-meter freestyle relay and the 400-meter medley relay. In December 2007, she swam in her final event, the USA Nationals, before retiring from the sport. Correia has arthritis in her right shoulder and rotator cuff problems in both shoulders. "I swam for 20 years ... I'm proud of what I accomplished," she told the St. Petersburg Times.
While her records in the 50-yard and 100-yard events have been broken, Correia remains a groundbreaking force in the world of competitive swimming. She continues to promote the sport as a spokesperson for USA Swimming and for the Women's Sports Foundation, which was created by another female sports pioneer, tennis great Billie Jean King. Traveling around the country, Correia often discusses her experiences with inner-city kids and encourages them to give swimming a try. She also continues to work with her sponsor Nike to promote their swimwear line.
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