Simone Manuel, a 20-year-old black female swimmer, and Simone Biles, a 19-year-old black female gymnast, dominated in two sports in which most United States competitors are white. Featuring a star-studded cast including three-time Olympic gold medalist Rowdy Gaines, U.S. women’s swimming coach Dave Marsh and 16-year-old black swimming sensation Reece Whitley, The Black Line is poised to eliminate the stereotype that black people don’t swim.
Advertisement
Last night, after finishing her floor routine, Biles was awarded with the All-Around gold medal and at her side on the podium was her fellow USA gymnast, Aly Raisman. So it makes sense why Manuel has a very practical desire for her influence on younger generations. “Even a year ago in 2015 her total wealth was shy of $300,000 and came nearly entirely from gold medals won in world gymnastics competitions”.
It was the first victory by the U.S.in the women’s 100 free since 1984, when Nancy Hogshead and Carrie Steinseifer also shared gold.
The Toronto native was in seventh place at the halfway turn before she soared into first place and became the first Canadian to win four medals at a summer Olympics – all in her first appearance at the Games. He is on the team again in Rio. “I was like, ‘She doesn’t even know!”
Until now, Cullen Jones had been the face of swimming for minorities in America, having won two golds and two silvers at the last two Olympics.
Before Manuel, there were only a handful of minorities on the US national team. “I have friends who really want to pursue sports, but because of cultural barriers they weren’t able to”. It was for people that came before me and inspired me to stay in the sport. “I hope I’m an inspiration for others to get out there and try swimming”.
Neal pumped Manuel up before the nighttime finals by singing and dancing together.
“I think that was a big shock”. When she was 18 months old and her mother’s back was briefly turned, she scurried into the bathtub fully clothed to play with her brother.
Kristin Armstrong – Women’s Cycling Time Trial – Though the roads of Rio were slick with rainwater, Armstrong prevailed in the “Race of Truth” to become the oldest American woman to win an individual gold medal with a victory a day prior to her 43rd birthday.
“That’s not true because I work just as hard as anyone else and I love the sport and I want to win just like everybody else”.
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”.
Advertisement
“I’ve always said that I didn’t need a gold medal to have self-worth and I guess that that’s being put to the test at the moment”, said Cate.
