Advocates said the battle was also about a broader cultural acceptance of Black hair.
The International Swimming Federation, the group that oversees the sport’s major competitions, dropped its opposition to a type of cap designed for Black hair a year after critics of the policy said it was culturally insensitive and created an unnecessary barrier to the sport.
Brent Nowicki, the federation’s executive director, said in a statement that he was “delighted” that the Soul Cap joined the group’s list of approved swimwear.