The 20-year-old swimmer took home the gold in Rio after tying for first place with 16-year-old Canadian Penny Oleksiak in the 100-meter freestyle.
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After giving sobering and mature remarks on the significance of her win in the light of the current state of racial relations in America, she said she hoped to one day simply be known for her own efforts, and not as “the black swimmer”.
Manuel said: “It means a lot to me, especially what’s going on in the world today and some of the issues with police brutality. I’m just Simone Biles, but it’s unbelievable to be recognized for all of this success for myself and for team US”, she said. “It’s for some of the African-Americans that have came before me and have been inspirations and mentors to me”.
You’ll have to make due with her performance in the team event rather than her individual gold, because American broadcasters NBC hold all the rights and they’ve blocked the content in S.A.
Biles said: “I’m very excited and relieved because I’ve finally done it”. Solid displays on the beam and floor took her to a total of 56.883, just outside the top 10.
In an interview with the Huffington Post, Manuel was asked how she is able to balance everything. “To me I’m just the same Simone”.
That’s no exaggeration. Biles’ Olympic all-around gold is the latest in a long line that have made her the greatest gymnast in her sport’s history. We can only imagine what it will be like when the team returns with their shiny new medals.
It was a odd sight to see two flags being raised in the gold medal position at the presentation ceremony. My goal was just to get more experience, swim as fast as I can. Despite being proud of her accomplishment, Manuel hopes her win won’t pigeonhole her in the minds of others.
It was a night of triumph and history for the United States in two of the Olympics’ showcase sports at the Rio Games.
Manuel also spoke with TIME before the Olympics about the influence she might have in Rio. That’s not true because I work just as hard as anybody else and I love the sport and I want to win just like everybody else.
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“It challenges me academically and athletically, and socially I get to be around such different people, though we also have something in common by being here”, Manuel told USA Swimming about attending Stanford. In 2000 he was barraged with questions about being the first black Olympic swimmer, but “I didn’t know a thing about what it was like to be part of the black experience”, Ervin told Rolling Stone in 2012.
