American Simone Manuel speaks out on police brutality, race after winning Olympic gold
RIO DE JANEIRO – American swimmer Simone Manuel spoke out about the United States’ police brutality controversy after claiming a historic gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle at the Rio Olympics on Thursday night.
Manuel became the first African-American female swimmer to take gold in an individual event when she surged home in the final half of the second lap to finish in a time of 52:70. That tied her with 16-year-old Canadian Penny Oleksiak, the pair sharing a new Olympic record and both receiving a gold medal.
Manuel said that her victory was extra special in the context of ongoing race issues in the U.S.
“It means a lot, especially with what is going on in the world today, some of the issues of police brutality,” Manuel said. “This win hopefully brings hope and change to some of the issues that are going on. My color just comes with the territory.”
US Swimmer Simone Manuel reacts after seeing her first place finish in the 100-meter freestyle event at the Rio Olympic Games Thursday, August 13, 2016. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette
Canada’s Penny Oleksiak, left, and United States’ Simone Manuel celebrate their tie for gold in the women’s 100-meter freestyle during the Olympic Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early Friday, Aug. 12, 2016. (Sean Kilplatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
United States’ Simone Manuel celebrates winning the gold medal in the women’s 100-meter freestyle during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 12, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
United States’ Simone Manuel celebrates winning the gold medal and setting a new olympic record in the women’s 100-meter freestyle during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)