Simone Manuel earned a place in the history books when she became the first African-American woman to win an individual Olympic swimming event. This was a gold medal for her, of course, but she shared it.
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That tied her with 16-year-old Canadian Penny Oleksiak, the pair sharing a new Olympic record and both receiving a gold medal. A diversity study published in 2008 of 300 gymnastics gyms (PDF) in the United States found that only about 6% of athletes were African-American. After preparation that took a lifetime, Manuel thus became a role model in less than a minute. “You’ve got to get over that fear”.
We’re a long way away from sports being colorblind, but Manuel’s four medals, two gold and two silver, are a huge step forward in that direction. I am super glad with the fact that I can be an inspiration to others and hopefully diversify the sport, but at the same time, I would like there to be a day when there are more of us, and it’s not ‘Simone, the black swimmer’. I hope that I’m an inspiration to others to get out there and try swimming.
As Janet Wright, the YMCA’s Safety Around Water national spokesperson so aptly said, “If your grandparents didn’t know how to swim, then they didn’t teach your parents, and if your parents didn’t swim, then you might not be a swimmer”.
Manuel’s performance was not only significant, it was stunning. “My goal was just to get more experience, swim as fast as I can”, she said. This was Logan’s third gold medal, which is the most golds ever earned by a USA women’s rower.
Manuel, meantime, hadn’t come to Rio expecting such a performance.
The gymnastics superstar has been a social butterfly at her first Olympics, mixing and making new friends with competitors from around the world. “She’s just ready to swim.'” Manuel went on to swim with the First Colony Swim Team in Sugar Land and now swims for Stanford University.
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Stepping out of baggage claim at George Bush Intercontinental Airport about 6:15 a.m., Manuel was welcomed by not only her family, but also a marching band, dancers, city leaders and adoring fans. She finished in 24.07 seconds. In 52.70 cathartic seconds, she reminded us. Manuel was fighting for a medal, for sure, but a gold seemed unlikely.
