Fred Evans swam to stardom, rapidly emerging as one of the nation's top recruits while growing up in Washington D.C. But as a Black swimmer competing in a predominantly white sport in the 1970s, he faced "pervasive" discrimination.
Appearing on the latest
Chi State Pod, Evans reflected on his high school experience.
"The Washington Post came out to do an interview with the head coach, Jane Stafford, and some of the swimmers," Evans said. "And the interviewer said, 'How does it feel to swim with colored children?'Â And this kid said, 'What color?' No one in our age group, unless you were brought up to think that was a distinction, thought that way. But the world was like that.
"I was on a team that had multiple nationalities and races and colors and attitudes, levels of low academics and high academics. But nothing that made it racial. Nothing that made it uncomfortable."
LISTEN: Fred Evans joins the Chi State Pod:
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Upon graduating high school and signing with Chicago State in 1974, Evans raced into the record books, winning NCAA Division II championships in the 100-yard breaststroke each year from 1975-77, setting records with every title. Evans is recognized as the first Black swimmer to win a collegiate swimming championship.
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A 1975 Washington Post piece highlighting Evans and his youth coach, Jane Stafford.
After graduating from Chicago State, Evans sustained a decades-long career as a renowned swimming coach in Chicago and is a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
In the latest Chi State Pod Black History Month installment, Evans reminisces on his transition to college life at Chicago State, hearkens back to his national titles and reflects on the meaning of becoming the first Black national swimming champion. Click here to listen.
The Chi State Pod serves to tell the stories of Cougars past, present and future through open and honest longform interviews. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
