Against the current: How a Memphis grandmother is swimming her way to the Senior Olympics
Marcquinne Yancy works out at the Bickford Aquatic Center in North Memphis. She’s preparing for the Senior Olympics regional trials. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)
As a child, Marcquinne Yancey left a swim lesson convinced she would never learn to float. Fifty years later she is heading to compete in the Senior Olympics regional trials.
Her journey from a fearful beginner to a decorated competitive swimmer highlights a broader story of resilience, health and the ongoing fight for equitable pool access in the Black community.
Yancey was 56 years old when she finally returned to the water at the Bickford Aquatic Center in North Memphis.
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Senior olympics swimming Bickford Aquatic Center North Memphis Memphis River Sharks Subscriber OnlyThank you for reading The Daily Memphian. Your support is critical.
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Brandon LaGrone II
Brandon LaGrone Jr. is a Bluff City native who has earned an undergraduate degree in journalism from LSU’s Manship School. He’s written for publications including The (Baton Rouge) Advocate and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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