American tennis player
Sloane Stephens is observing Black History Month by honoring her mother, Sybil Smith, and celebrating her illustrious career. Every February, Black History Month is celebrated annually in the United States and Canada to recognize the contributions of African-Americans and their culture.
Stephens took this opportunity to interview her mother, who is a brilliant swimmer. Sybil Smith made history as the first African-American woman to be named a first-team All-American swimmer in Division I.
Smith is celebrated in the Boston University Athletic Hall of Fame (1993) and is widely recognized as the greatest swimmer in the university's history, cementing her legacy as one of the school's greatest athletes. Her remarkable achievement has inspired generations of athletes to strive for excellence.
Sloane Stephens took to Twitter to celebrate her amazing mother and her extraordinary achievements. She also shared an interview that recorded her accomplishments.
"Celebrating #BlackHistoryMonth starting with my mom, Sybil Smith Ed.D., a legend in BU swimming history! 80 wins, 7 unbeaten records, Hall of Fame inductee," wrote Sloane.
Smith is widely regarded as the greatest swimmer in Boston University's history. In her senior year, she achieved a remarkable feat by placing sixth at the NCAA Championships in the 100 yard backstroke event. To this day, Smith remains the only All-American female swimmer in the school's history.
Smith's accomplishments were recognized for being the university's outstanding female athlete in 1987 and 1988, making her the first person to receive this honor twice.
Sybil won an unprecedented eighty consecutive dual meets throughout her four-year swimming career, never once tasting defeat. Seven of her university swim records remain unbeaten to this day, and she was inducted into Boston University's Hall of Fame shortly after Sloane Stephens was born. She set the bar for future generations of black swimmers.