Swimming caps specifically designed for Black hair have been approved by the world’s governing body for the game, NPR reports.

The Soul Cap was developed to offer higher fit and chlorine protection for thicker, curlier hair. The creators of the British brand sought approval for the product before the Summer Olympics in Tokyo in 2021. Nonetheless, they were rejected by the swimming federation, referred to as FINA.

FINA claimed that athletes competing on the world stage have “never used, neither require to make use of, caps of such size and configuration,” based on The Associated Press. 

The organization also said that the cap doesn’t “[follow] the natural type of the top,” a rule outlined in FINA’s requirements for approved swimwear. 

The backlash to the ban was swift and led to much-needed conversations concerning the lack of diversity in swimming and the barriers that exist on the planet of competitive swimming.

In line with a 2020 study in The International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education, Black children ages 5 to 14 have a 2.6 times higher risk of drowning death than White children. This risk is linked to “systematic exclusion from public pools.”

After “a period of review and discussion on cap design” together with Soul Cap creators, FINA reversed its decision from last yr this week. “Promoting diversity and inclusivity is at the center of FINA’s work, and it is rather necessary that each one aquatic athletes have access to the suitable swimwear,” FINA Executive Director Brent Nowicki told the U.K.’s Metro.

In a press release released last week, the makers of the Soul Cap said that traditional caps presented a challenge for swimmers with braids, Afros, or otherwise thick and curly hair, increasing the likelihood that some swimmers would avoid competitions or surrender on the game.

“We wish to see swimming turn into an accessible sport, with equipment and swimwear that lets anyone become involved and see success,” the statement said.

The brand called the approval “an enormous step in the fitting direction.”