An Interview with Jamal Hill: Paralympian And Founder Of The Swim Up Hill Method
We were lucky enough to sit down (virtually) with Paralympian swimmer and founder of Swim Up Hill, Jamal Hill. The Swim Up Hill organization is currently teaching hundreds of families from all over the world essential water competency and safety skills virtually through the Airbnb online platform.
"Through the ease and speed of the Swim Up Hill Method, I aim to teach 1,000,000 people to swim, taking justice against senseless-accidental drownings." - Jamal Hill
Tell us about yourself, who is Jamal Hill?
My name is Jamal Hill, I am an educator and Team USA Paralympic swimmer based out of Inglewood, California competing in the 2021 Paralympics in Japan and running my business Swim Up Hill. I am currently ranked #1 in the United States for several swimming events, and #7 in the word for the Men’s S10 50 meter freestyle.
Tell us about your aquatic journey… when did you start swimming, what are some of your swimming accomplishments?
My mother never learned how to swim before I was born but she made sure that I did learn from an early age through Mommy & Me programs at our local YMCA. I swam competitively in age-group from ages six to ten. At age ten I took a six-year hiatus from swimming due to complications of my congenital neuropathy disease, Charcot-Marie-Tooth. At age sixteen I joined my high school swim team as a sophomore and continued swim through my high school career for about three months each year until I graduated. Upon graduation, I attended a division three college in northeast Ohio, where I competed as apart of their collegiate team for three years. Upon completing my junior year I decided to “ Go Pro”, and have been training year-round since 2017. My career to date is like most swimmers, and quite spectacular considering what I’ve been able to accomplish with only three years of formal year-round training.
As a para-athlete, what do you think are the most common misconceptions and misunderstandings about the para-sports community?
Most people assume that disability is something that should be clearly visible and easily identified. As a para-athlete with less traditional characteristics of what most consider warrant inclusion into the disability spectrum, I take great pride in highlighting that not all disabilities fit a cookie-cutter model. Human beings are complex, and I try to offer opportunities to celebrate those complexities and acknowledge the differences that make us unique. As one of the older members of Team USA ParaSwimming, I encourage parents and athletes to participate as often as possible in sporting events and on teams that “fully able-bodied” individuals participate in. The best thing we can do is empower our disabled community so that they dare to reach past the limits that society has attempted to place on them, and to affect, a paradigm shift in the minds of our public resulting in a perspective likened to “whether some is missing a limb, sight, or nerve conductivity, they are not missing the ability to dream and accomplish their goals.. which is what makes us all human.”
What is Swim Up Hill? How did it begin and what is your mission for the program?
In the United States, historical practices of systemic oppression prevented black families from gaining access to public pools, lakes, and beaches. Over the decades that racial exclusion developed into a frighteningly true stigma that “black people don’t swim.” This stigma has manifested itself in drowning rate data where black youth are three times as likely to be involved in accidental drownings. Through the ease and speed of the Swim Up Hill Method, I aim to teach 1,000,000 people to swim, taking justice against senseless-accidental drownings. The mission to teach 1,000,000 is a mantle that has been assumed by the Swim Up Hill Foundation and at this time everyone has the opportunity to continue to invest in water competency for underserved communities by becoming a fiscal sponsor through our "foundation" page on the www.swimuphill.com website.
Hi & thank you for sharing. I’m a 68 yr old female who has been a competitive tennis player through college & an active swimmer since age 3. I never mastered the flip kick turn due to an inner ear defect, but growing up in AZ, swimming was crucial. I joined the USA after college & became a Master Fitness Trainer for the Army, as a side job to my other officer duties. After 9 yrs in the Army I went back to school & became an RN. Then in 2006 I was literally butchered by an arrogant surgical resident when he inappropriately got involved in a simple neck biopsy & my surgeon wasn’t paying attention & the JD severed four critical nerves in my neck. I instantly went from running, cycling, ocean swimming & heavy weight lifting to upper body paralysis. It took me six months just to learn how to brush my own teeth & I was in PT for two years, 5 days a week. I’d go to PT, then head to the pool, Swim two miles & then back to PT where they’d hammer on my back to get rid of all the spasms. I’ve also had two aortic valve replacements (birth defect), but no one can really tell I’m considered 100% disabled, because I refuse to allow my disabilities to define me. I now swim four days/week & do an average of 110, 25 yard laps. In college I was also a life guard. In the ER I had to care for lots of drownings (in Hawaii) & it’s horrible. So, first, can you tell me how I can get involved in participating in the paraSwimming program, & also how I can help with the swimming instructions? I’d love to be involved & especially be able to show kids & adults that no matter what your physical limitations are- you can achieve anything. & some days the paralysis is so painful still, I can barely get out of bed. But in the water, I have complete freedom of movement, which is a miracle. I pray you respond! Thanks, Joanne
I’m a big fan of Jamall,I met him several years ago at the Torrance plunge and then saw him many times at masters swim meets and I’m so glad he is taking this next step to promote swim lessons for people who traditionally would not have been able to take lessons or even thought swimming was for them. I’m a retired high school teacher who taught swimming for over 10 years herself and is a master swimmer and I’m just thrilled to know Jamall personally and highly recommend his program.