Block: The starting platform; the area from which a swimmer dives into the pool to begin a race.. Cap: Latex or lycra head covering used during a race or workout to protect a swimmer's hair from the ...

Rocket McDonald, front, and Makos Swim teammates enter the water without starting blocks during practice at the YMCA’s O’Fallon Park Rec Complex on March 18, 2025, in St. Louis.

A swim team in St. Louis combats the racial gap in drownings by promoting water safety — not just for its ... the Makos swimmers practice in a YMCA pool that doesn’t have starting blocks.