In the summer of 2014 Manuel conducted a swim clinic at the pool. For white kids, it was 41.8 percent, and for Latino kids, 57.9 percent. For Caucasians, it was 41.8 percent.
Advertisement
There’s an old joke – or, at least, that’s what some people have the nerve to call it – that goes something like this: Why don’t black people swim? Black children drown at a rate almost three times higher than their white peers. I work just as hard as anybody else.
She never did get in.
The 20-year-old Manuel upset world-record holder Cate Campbell of Australia and tied with Penny Oleksiak of Canada at the Rio Games on Thursday night.
“There were lots of ups and downs this week”, she said.
“I ain’t gettin’ in no water”, my grandmother used to say with a dismissive wave while I begged her to sit on the steps in the shallow end of my suburb’s public pool while I splashed around. And it’s for all of the people who will come after me and doubt if they can do it.
The significance was not lost on many viewers, some of whom recalled racist Segregation-era policies that kept black Americans out of swimming pools. She says she tried not to think about it during training in order to focus on winning the race. “I have a feeling it’s not”.
In the 15 minutes after she spoke with reporters, Douglas appeared to jump right back into the social media world that put such a stain on her goodbye tour.
“I support them, and I’m sorry that I wasn’t showing it, and I should have”. I ain’t getting in no water. “I shed some tears to be honest with you”.
The United States has always been one of the better nations in Olympic swimming competitions.
Check out the list of other black athletes to make history at the Olympics. They’re often about not ruining hair. Women can’t just move on and let it dry. But there is a particular, fraught history that follows black Americans and swimming, which Manuel may have been alluding to in her comments. “She understands that it’s a part of it”.
In an interview following her first-place win, Manuel discussed the historical element of her win, particularly in the context of the ongoing race issues in America. “I do hope that kind of goes away”.
“I think personally for me I could have gone a little faster”, she said, “but any time you win gold, especially on a relay, especially with three other fantastic women, it’s such an honor”.
Manuel has taken any “happy to be here” novelty out of the quest. And despite all those people telling her to stay off her phone, it’s quite clear she heard it all. “We didn’t know then that this is what we were in for”. Phelps swam third in the 4×100-meter medley relay, a race the Americans would ultimately win with a new Olympic record. He didn’t know how to respond to questions about the historic accomplishment because he’s light-skinned and chooses to celebrate his multiracial heritage.
Simone Manuel of the United States celebrates winning gold in the Women’s 100m Freestyle Final on Day 6 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium on August 11, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. That’s how much it matters to the organization.
I’m glad I can be an inspiration to others, but I haven’t really thought about how my life has changed. But for now, we’re still in a pioneering stage.
There’s only one holdover from the 2012 gold medal team: Dana Vollmer.
Advertisement
King wasn’t too concerned about the comparison. Dire statistics don’t have to be discouraging. In 52.70 cathartic seconds, she reminded us.
