The original headline on this story was insensitive and has been updated to acknowledge the historic gold medal wins by both Simone Manuel and Michael Phelps.
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Kennedy said nationally, 70 percent of African American children don’t learn how to swim, but he expects that will change after Rio.
Her mother didn’t have an answer. “I know made the Olympic team, I always said, I’m proud to be the first, but I definitely don’t want to be the last”. AP is the largest and most trusted source of independent news and information. We pulled different articles and started reading.
My mom put me in swim lessons at age 4 because she didn’t know how to swim. And she won a gold at that, turning out an absolutely unbelievable performance to tie with Canadian swimmer Penny Oleksiak and set a record time of 57.20 in 100-meter freestyle. It’s not just about her skin color.
The 20-year-old Stanford University student became the first African-American woman to win a gold medal in an individual swimming event when she tied for first with Penny Oleksiak of Canada in the 100-meter freestyle Thursday night.
Simone Manuel tears up as she sings the USA national anthem.
The U.S. women’s eight won its 11th consecutive major title Saturday, claiming its third Olympic gold medal in a row (no pun intended).
“I just want to be an inspiration to others that you can do it”, Manuel said through tears. Maritza (Correia), Cullen (Jones), and it’s for all the people after me, who believe they can’t do it. That year, young black and white protesters in St. Augustine, Florida, were assaulted with acid thrown into the pool water before being locked in jail in their bathing suits for daring to challenge segregation.
His success had particular resonance during a dark period in Germany’s history, when the Nazis portrayed African Americans as inferior. She shared it warmly with her fellow record breaker as she, Olekiask and later, the bronze winning Sjorstrom, shared hugs.
Simone Manuel followed her older brothers’ footsteps from swim lessons to recreational summer leagues. “But as long as we keep pushing it, we’ll reach more”.
But now that the competition is in full swing, the Olympic Games are attracting viewers, who in turn are enjoying some wonderful athletic feats. Our secondary goals are to get more Blacks into competitive swimming.
Manuel didn’t just win any medal.
On Monday morning, she spoke with our anchors on “KPRC Today”. I am super glad with the fact I can be an inspiration to others and hopefully diversify the sport, 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’.
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Elsewhere, Elaine Thompson stormed to victory in the women’s 100m to usher in a new era for Jamaican sprinting as the eight-year Olympic reign of compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce came to an end. “People are going to be excited and say, ‘hey I can do that too'”. It just takes a little bit of time.
