By If there is one name you should remember from the 2016 Olympic games in Rio, it is Simone Manuel.
The 20-year-old Stanford University student made waves Thursday night when she tied with her Canadian competitor, Penny Oleksiak, for gold in the 100-meter freestyle event with a record-breaking time of 52.70 seconds. In addition to winning gold, Manuel also won the silver medal in the 4×100 meter freestyle relay.
But her medals and record-setting time are not her only Olympic achievements. Manuel is the first African-American female to win a gold medal in swimming — a feat made all the more important when you consider the competition’s blatant lack of diversity.
The dearth of black competitors in the swimming competition is largely symptomatic of America’s past legacy of racism and segregation, the consequences of which still permeate many of the nation’s sectors and institutions, including sports.
Swimming became a booming phenomenon almost 100 years ago, with pools popping up all across the nation — segregated pools, that is. While public swimming pools sprouted all across the country, only a fragment of them were accessible to black people.
The dearth of black competitors in the swimming competition is largely symptomatic of America’s past legacy of racism and segregation, the consequences of which still permeate many of the nation’s sectors and institutions, including sports.
Even later on, in the 1950s and 1960s, when the desegregation of public places was implemented, many public pools were abandoned, destroyed, or closed down — as racist white communities opted for no pools in lieu of the desegregated ones.
Some simply went to pools in suburban neighborhoods, or private pools, which were inaccessible to black communities.
The absence of black competitors in the sport is not lost on Manuel, who hopes her win will inspire increased participation in swimming, and her victory will not be solely defined by her racial identity.
“That’s something I’ve definitely struggled with a lot, just coming into this race tonight,” Manuel said to reporters following her historic win. “I kind of tried to take the weight of the black community off my shoulders, which is something I carry with me just being in this position. I do kind of hope it goes away. I’m super glad with the fact that 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 where there are more of us and it’s not ‘Simone, the black swimmer.’”
Manuel, like many other black athletes in the past, used her platform to call out the rampant racial injustice occurring at home, and expressing hopes for a brighter future.
“It means a lot, especially with what is going on in the world today, some of the issues of police brutality,” Manuel told reporters. “This win hopefully brings hope and change to some of the issues that are going on. My color comes with the territory.”
Her undeniable athletic prowess, eloquent and poised demeanor, and general badassery make her one of our favorite Olympians.
She will indubitably influence a new generation of swimmers to do what she did; kick ass and take names. She is a living embodiment of #goals and we can’t wait to see what else the brilliant and inspiring Simone has in store for us next!
She will be competing in the women’s 50-meter freestyle later today. We’re rooting for you, Simone!