Charles Chapman (swimmer)

Charles "Charlie the Tuna" Chapman was an American distance swimmer specializing in the butterfly stroke.

Biography

Chapman was born in Buffalo, New York. In 1981, he became the first black swimmer to cross the English Channel.[1]

In 1988, he earned a world record by circumnavigating the island of Manhattan, 28.5 miles, in 9 hours, 25 minutes and 8 seconds.[2] The previous year, Los Angeles Dodgers vice president Al Campanis had stated that blacks couldn't swim because their bones were too heavy; Chapman, in response, said, "I'm like Jackie Robinson paving the way, except I'll be wearing a little bathing suit",[3] and ""Silly stuff like that, some people believe. Hell, you watch me swim around Manhattan".[4]

He went on to complete butterfly-only swims from Alcatraz to Aquatic Park in San Francisco, around Alcatraz Island, and, in 1997, completed the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim.[5]

In 1993, Chapman was sentenced to two years and nine months in federal prison, the minimum under sentencing guidelines, for his part in conspiracy to sell five ounces of cocaine.[6]

See also

List of successful English Channel swimmers

References
  1. "Twenty One Historic Black "Firsts" In Swimming History – Questions and answers". International Swimming Hall of Fame. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  2. "Buffalo's Own Charlie "The Tuna" Chapman Marks 34th Anniversary of Historic English Channel Swim". Challenger Community News. September 2015. Archived from the original on 7 February 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  3. "Charles "Tuna" Chapman". International Swimming Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 23 November 2010. Retrieved 25 July 2017.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. Silverman, Joel (27 August 1988). "BLACK MARATHONER PLANS TO MAKE HISTORY IN MANHATTAN RACE". The Washington Post. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  5. Ortiz, Jorge L. (5 September 1997). "The Tuna returning to The Rock". SF Gate.
  6. Herbeck, Dan (10 September 1993). ""Charlie the Tuna" Draws Prison Term". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
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