5 Things to Know About 4-Time Olympic Medalist Simone Manuel
5 Things You May Not Know About Legendary Swimmer Simone Manuel
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Even as a four-time Olympic medalist, Manuel feels as though her Blackness is still her defining feature in the predominantly white sport. During her July 2020 interview with People, she explained that people have often reacted with surprise when she revealed that she's a swimmer. "It's very obvious that it's rooted in the thinking that Black people can't swim, shouldn't swim, or can't be successful in the sport of swimming," Manuel said. "I've gotten responses like that. I've gotten laughed at when I've told people I swim."
While she loves to inspire young Black athletes and encourage them to get into the pool, "I would like there to be a day where there are more of us and it's not 'Simone, the Black swimmer,'" Manuel said at the 2016 Olympics, after becoming the first Black woman to win an individual Olympic medal in swimming. "The title 'Black swimmer' makes it seem like I'm not supposed to be able to win a gold medal or I'm not supposed to be able to break records and that's not true because I work just as hard as anybody else. I want to win just like everybody else."