The field consisted not just of the 16-year-old Oleksiak, who entered the event with three medals already to her credit, but with more formidable opponents all around.
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Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom, who earlier this week earned gold in the 100m butterfly, took the bronze in 52.99. Oleksiak became the first Olympic gold medallist born in the 21st century and the youngest in Canadian history.
It’s the first gold for the USA in the event since 1984 and the first time an African American woman has won individual gold in swimming.
“This is unbelievable, to tie for a gold”. I never thought I’d win.
‘And it’s for all the people after me who believe you can’t do it, ‘ she added, getting emotional as she basked in the glory of victory.
She has previously won a silver medal in a relay race, and said that she had not expected an individual gold.
Oleksiak has split her quartette of medals evenly between the team relays and individual events.
The first was at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, when Americans Nancy Hogshead and Carrie Steinseifer tied at 55.92 seconds. World record holder Cate Campbell of Australia was forced to watch on after finishing sixth.
Hilary Caldwell of White Rock, B.C., advanced to the final of the women’s 200-metre backstroke while Dominique Bouchard of North Bay, Ont., failed to advance to the final. Kaneto led at the final turn and pulled away from Efimova to touch first in 2 mins 20.30 secs, a comfortable winning margin of 1.67 seconds. It’s a long process to get there, she said.
“I met other minorities who were facing some of the same things that I was, so through that process I didn’t feel so alone”, she said in March. “All I want now is to cheer the rest of my team-mates”.
After the medal ceremony – US anthem first followed by Canada’s – Oleksiak hugged her tearful sister Hayley, brother Jamie and her parents Alison and Richard.
Murphy took over at the halfway point from pacesetter Mitch Larkin (AUS), winning in 1 min 53.62 secs.
“After I stared at it a little while I realised I tied with Penny”, Manuel said. Women weren’t allowed to participate in most sporting events until just a few decades ago, as the violent removal of renegade runner Kathrine Switzer-who crashed the 1967 Boston Marathon only to be charged at by angry male organizers-showed in embarrassing detail. Thank you all so much for your support.
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The teen sensation’s older brother is Jamie Oleksiak, a professional NHL hockey player for the Dallas Stars, while her sister, Hayley, rows for Northeastern University.
