Her win comes right after first time Olympic gymnast Simone Biles won gold for the American women’s gymnast team, which pretty much dominated the competition since the start.
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CBS 2’s Suzanne Le Mignot reports how that victory has inspired so many here in Chicago. “I want young boys and girls all over the world to feel fearless and to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel and to know there is a shiny gold medal”, she said.
“I was nervous a little bit for her today just to come out and do it and make it yours”, Boorman said.
Simone Manuel swam into the history books Thursday night, becoming the first female African-American Olympic champion in an individual swimming event.
Before Ledecky jumps in the water, she says a “Hail Mary”.
For 16 years, through Olympics in Sydney, Athens, Beijing, London and Rio, African-Americans swam under a microscope for their country.
“That’s something I definitely struggled with a lot”, Manuel said.
She attended Catholic schools through high school, and “going to these schools was important to my swimming – my Catholic schools challenged me, they broadened my perspective and they allowed me to use my mind in ways that take me beyond just thinking about swim practices, swim meets and sports”.
“That’s not true. I work just as hard as everybody else and I love the sport”.
For Manuel, the victory could not have been sweeter. It’s for a whole bunch of people that came before me and have been an inspiration to me.
“I do hope that it kind of goes away”.
Many on social media were rubbed the wrong way by Douglas’ seeming lack of enthusiasm for her teammates competing in the all-around competition at the Rio Olympics on Thursday.
“That’s insane to think about”, Biles said when asked about winning five gold medals.
Manuel will be in Lane 7 of Saturday night’s final as she looks to sweep the sprint freestyle events. “The title “black swimmer” makes it seem like I am not supposed to be able to win a gold medal, I am not supposed to be able to break records”.
“I was like, “Oh, I’m on the medal stand, ‘ ” Manuel said”. Video shows the 100-meter freestyle champ looking up and gaping in shock and awe as she realizes she’s won.
Manuel and Oleksiak shared the top spot on the medal podium, with the US anthem played first followed by the Canadian anthem.
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Kennedy said the Olympics are always a prime time to showcase swimming, but Manuel’s emergence could also have a big impact on swim infrastructure in local communities. Manuel said she wanted her gold medal to serve as an impetus for “hope and change”, accepting she now has a role to play as an inspiration to other African-Americans. Add another handful of medals four years from now in Tokyo and she will be in rarified territory.
