Simone Manuel has become the first African-American woman to win an individual Olympic gold medal in swimming.
The win for Manuel was an unexpected surprise.
“Coming into my first Olympics I didn’t think I was going to be getting a gold medal individually. My goal was just to get more experience,” she said.
The 20-year-old shared the gold medal in the women’s one hundred metre freestyle with Canadian teen Penny Oleksiak.
Both Manuel and Olesiak set a new joint Olympic record time of 52.70 seconds.
Although her shared Olympic record time will in time change, the one thing that will remain an individual history making moment will forever be her win for all African-Americans.
“The title of black swimmer suggests that I am not supposed to win golds or break records, but that’s not true because I train hard and want to win just like everyone else,” she said.
Manuel has already earned herself another gold medal in the women’s 4 by 100 metre medley relay and two silver medals in the women’s 50 metre freestyle and the women’s 4 by 100 metre freestyle relay.
