United States’ gold medal victor Simone Manuel cries during the medal ceremony for the women’s 100-meter freestyle final during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 12, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Advertisement
When Manuel was asked whether it felt odd or weird to share an individual gold medal, she said, “I wouldn’t say it’s weird”.
However, the pair, who helped Australia win the 4x100m freestyle relay on Saturday, faded in the second half of the race to miss out on the medals entirely.
Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom took bronze, with Australian sisters Bronte and Cate Campbell fourth and sixth respectively.
The 20-year-old swimmer from Sugar Land, Texas, tied for first with 16-year-old Canadian sensation Penny Oleksiak in the 100-meter freestyle. But in this case, two swimmers who had matched each other stroke for stroke – Simone Manuel of the US and Penny Oleksiak of Canada – came into the wall at the same instant.
Manuel and Oleksiak shared the top spot on the medal podium, with the USA anthem played first followed by the Canadian anthem. Tears rolled down each of Manuel’s cheeks as she sang along.
“Lia and I have this very special relationship, and I wouldn’t be where I am right now without her”, said Manuel.
It was the first victory by the U.S.in the women’s 100 free since 1984, when Nancy Hogshead and Carrie Steinseifer also shared gold.
Under the Olympics’ scoring rules, when two athletes tie, they each get a medal – meaning that while this race has two gold medalists, no one gets a silver.
For the 22nd time at the Olympics, Michael Phelps won a gold medal as he starred once more at the Rio Games.
As she treaded water after her final, Manuel pointed up at the screen above the pool and seemed to be trying to take in what had happened – an understandable response, given the frenzied race she’d just swam.
“It means a lot, especially with what is going on in the world today, some of the issues of police brutality”, Manuel said.
“I will just remember all the memories I made”.
Until now, Cullen Jones had been the face of swimming for minorities in America, having won two golds and two silvers at the last two Olympics.
Fiji harvested their first ever Olympic gold as their men’s rugby sevens team trounced Britain 43-7 in a lopsided final.
“I say this a lot, but every single day I’m living a dream come true”, Phelps said. “My goal was just to get more experience, swim as fast as I can”.
Neal pumped Manuel up before the nighttime finals by singing and dancing together.
Advertisement
“When I was younger, I didn’t want to be called the black swimmer, or the African-American swimmer, because I was doing what everyone else was doing, so I didn’t see a difference”. “After the race, I gave her a big hug and I cried and I told her, ‘Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.’ She’s a huge part of my successes”. I never thought I’d win a gold.
