Young swimmer stands out with unmatched skill and drive
Journee Green may be only nine years old, but she swims with the power and focus of seasoned champions. Her determination is simple yet powerful.
“I just want to win,” Journee said, reflecting her competitive spirit.
She already trains in Olympic-sized pools and dreams of one day representing her country on the world’s biggest stage. What makes her journey even more remarkable is that she is the only Black girl on her swim team — a fact she embraces with pride.
“Being the only Black girl in my group means I’m special,” she said.
Inspiring others in a sport with deep racial gaps
Journee’s talent carries more weight than just medals. Statistics show that 64 percent of Black children in the United States have little or no swimming ability. Black children between five and 19 are also five times more likely to drown in pools compared to white children.
By mastering the water, Journee challenges these numbers and inspires others in the Black community to learn swimming — a skill that can save lives. Her presence in the sport is also a reminder of how far the sport has come from the Jim Crow era, when Black swimmers were banned from many pools and segregated from white competitors.
Aiming to join a rare group of Olympic Black women swimmers
If Journee reaches the Olympics, she would be only the eighth Black woman to ever swim in the Games. That would place her in the company of trailblazers like Maritza Correia McClendon, the first Black woman to win an Olympic swimming medal, and Simone Manuel, the first to win gold.
For Journee, this goal is more than personal glory. It’s about representing young Black athletes in a sport where they remain underrepresented, showing that the lanes are open to everyone with the will to compete.
A record of victories and rising talent
Since her competitive debut two years ago, Journee has stacked up wins and medals. Her first meet at the University of Illinois Chicago saw her take first place in freestyle.
“And when she got that very first win there wasn’t no stopping her,” said her mother, Tanya Green. “From then on it was win, win, win.”
Journee is now qualified for Indiana divisionals in both the 50-meter and 100-meter backstroke. She is also a skilled gymnast, with aerial flips and turns that add to her athletic edge in the water.
Recognition beyond the pool
Her dominance has earned her a nomination for Sports Illustrated’s Youth Athlete of the Year, which comes with a $25,000 prize. While her focus is firmly on swimming, she knows other skills can help her performance.
Journee approaches every race with a mindset of steady progress. “I take it lap by lap,” she said. But when the finish line is in sight, her mission is clear — to beat everyone in the pool.
