RIO DE JANEIRO-Canadian teenager Penny Oleksiak and Simone Manuel of the United States dead-heated for the 100 meters Olympic swimming freestyle gold on Thursday when both women touched the wall in 52.70 seconds.
Advertisement
The Toronto native tied with Simone Manuel of the USA with a time of 52.70 to win the gold, becoming the first Canadian swimmer to win four medals in an Olympics. The only swimmers who delivered faster splits were new American legend Katie Ledecky, Swedish champion Sarah Sjostrom – who won bronze in this race – and Aussie Emma McKeon. “I want to be an inspiration to them that they can do it”, she said. And I just want to be an inspiration to others that you can do it. Their faces are absolutely beaming after their daughters tied for first place in the women’s 100-metre freestyle.
Manuel broke down in tears when she recognized her historic achievement in a sport that still has few African-Americans.
It was the first time a Canadian woman competed in the 100-metre freestyle since Marion Lay finished fourth in Mexico City in 1968.
Although she was disappointed with her time, she took solace in knowing that she is a role model for young girls in Botswana, a nation of 2.1 million people and two 50-meter swimming pools.
“It challenges me academically and athletically, and socially I get to be around such different people, though we also have something in common by being here”, Manuel told USA Swimming about attending Stanford.
Coincidentally, Manuel and Oleksiak’s tie is the third Olympic swimming race in which the gold medal is shared. So she’s just, swim along next to whoever she’s next to, and then go faster at the end of the race, and win. Both women set a new Olympic record of 52.70 in the 100 free. The Baltimore swimmer loves nothing more than to mug with his 3-month-old son Boomer after races while sitting with fiancee Nicole Johnson.
“We don’t hug a lot”, Oleksiak said with a laugh, “and whenever we do my mom is saying, “Penny, hug your brother!” “I definitely worked hard these past four years, day in and day out”.
Despite understanding the significance of her victory, Manuel said she hoped that one day the colour of her skin would no longer be a talking point.
“I told her, that’s your sport”, says Hayley.
“It means a lot, especially with what’s going on in the world today, some of the issues with police brutality”, Manuel said.
On Wednesday, Oleksiak anchored the women’s 4×200-metre freestyle relay team, where the 16-year-old and teammates Katerine Savard, Taylor Ruck and Brittany MacLean won the bronze medal. “It’s just, I get a little agitated when I don’t”. “I think this [gold medal] will kind of help bring hope and change to some of the issues going on in the world”.
Advertisement
“Lia and I have this very special relationship, and I wouldn’t be where I am right now without her”, said Manuel.
