A new study finds that nearly 60 percent of African-American children can't swim, a figure almost twice that of white children.

That's according to a new study aimed at lowering minority drowning rates and drawing more blacks into the sport of swimming.

The first-of-its-kind USA Swimming survey also finds that black children drown at a rate almost three times higher than children overall.

USA Swimming is teaming with local governments, businesses, and youth and ethnic groups to expand learn-to-swim programs nationwide.

One of the main players is freestyle star Cullen Jones, who's hoping to win at this summer's Beijing Olympics. He said he sometimes hears skeptical comments about swimming from adults in the black community, even from some of his relatives. But he sees little hesitation among the children he mentors. As he puts it, "there's no kid out there who doesn't like jumping into a pool."