Simone Manuel’s words speak for themselves. Biles’ parents said that the comments bothered her. “I always had an issue with not seeing “people that looked like me” in the sport”. That was no different when 20-year-old Simone Manuel became the first African-American woman to win an individual gold medal in swimming.
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Examining the articles with her daughter, who already was flashing staggering potential as a swimmer, Sharron began to understand Simone could turn into a trailblazer.
Manuel, though, shared it with all young African-American girls. But the importance of Simone Manuel’s win Thursday night can’t be overstated.
When Simone Biles, a black woman, won the all-around title at the World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, in 2013, Italian competitor Carlotta Ferlito told an Italian journalist, “next time, we should also paint our skin black, so then we could win, too”.
While tense race relations and xenophobia continued to strain the fabrics of communities back in the states, Team USA’s women’s gymnastics team collected gold. Michael Phelps is great and all, but the story is predominantly not about Michael Phelps. A gold-silver finish not just for Australia, but for the Campbell family of Brisbane, seemed plausible. But the weight of their achievements is amplified by the social progress they represent.
He became the first swimmer to win a single event in four consecutive Olympics with his victory in the 200-meter individual medley. “This medal is not just for me”.
Carter, 30, is competing in her third Olympics. These athletes are filling roles that have seldom been occupied by minorities, if ever. “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”, Manuel said.
Manuel’s performance was not only significant, it was stunning.
According to Vox, the battle for integration ensued well into the 1950’s, as the NAACP was involved in a number of anti-discrimination lawsuits due to the fact that African-Americans were still being denied access to public swimming pools and beaches. Black children also die from accidental drownings at 5 1/2 times the rate of white children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As far back as African slaves being brought to America on ships overseas, to the Jim Crow south that kept Blacks, regardless of economic status, out of white pools, to recent events of Black children being kicked out of a pool party in Texas. “She has the opportunity to inspire a generation of young children from a very diverse background who have traditionally not engaged in aquatic sports”.
And despite all the “black people can’t swim” jokes that comedians use to bring down the house, these are risky facts.
Angelika Sita Ouedraogo is an electrical engineering student from Burkina Faso, a nation not known for its swim team.
“They might develop a love for the sport, but the most important issue for me is that all minorities need to be water safe and not be afraid of the water”. “I mean, this medal is not just for me”.
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“Then my husband saw Olympic record and saw she had gotten first”, Sharron told The Associated Press by phone Friday. One thing they don’t have in common?
