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Meet Simone Manuel

emily mclanahan
  • <p>Gold medalist Simone Manuel of the United States celebrates on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Women’s 100m Freestyle Final on Day 6 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium on August 11, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Getty) </p>
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    Simone Manuel

    Gold medalist Simone Manuel of the United States celebrates on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Women’s 100m Freestyle Final on Day 6 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium on August 11, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Getty)

  • <p>She set a new American record becoming the first African-American woman to win a gold medal in an individual swimming event. (Getty) </p>
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    Simone Manuel

    She set a new American record becoming the first African-American woman to win a gold medal in an individual swimming event. (Getty)

  • <p>One of her goals is to increase awareness of the sport for African-Americans. (Getty) </p>
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    Simone Manuel

    One of her goals is to increase awareness of the sport for African-Americans. (Getty)

  • <p>Her parents started her in swimming at four years old with the hopes she’d learn the rules of the water. (Getty) </p>
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    Simone Manuel

    Her parents started her in swimming at four years old with the hopes she’d learn the rules of the water. (Getty)

  • <p>She attends and swims for Stanford University. (AP) </p>
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    Simone Manuel

    She attends and swims for Stanford University. (AP)

  • <p>This win set a new record in the 100m freestyle event of 57.20 seconds. (Getty) </p>
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    Simone Manuel

    This win set a new record in the 100m freestyle event of 57.20 seconds. (Getty)

  • <p>Manuel is from Sugar Land, TX. </p>
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    Simone Manuel

    Manuel is from Sugar Land, TX.

  • <p>Yes, even swimmers take off their caps at times for a quick selfie. (@swimone13 on Instagram) </p>
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    Simone Manuel

    Yes, even swimmers take off their caps at times for a quick selfie. (@swimone13 on Instagram)

<p>Gold medalist Simone Manuel of the United States celebrates on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Women’s 100m Freestyle Final on Day 6 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium on August 11, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Getty) </p>
<p>She set a new American record becoming the first African-American woman to win a gold medal in an individual swimming event. (Getty) </p>
<p>One of her goals is to increase awareness of the sport for African-Americans. (Getty) </p>
<p>Her parents started her in swimming at four years old with the hopes she’d learn the rules of the water. (Getty) </p>
<p>She attends and swims for Stanford University. (AP) </p>
<p>This win set a new record in the 100m freestyle event of 57.20 seconds. (Getty) </p>
<p>Manuel is from Sugar Land, TX. </p>
<p>Yes, even swimmers take off their caps at times for a quick selfie. (@swimone13 on Instagram) </p>

Simone Biles has done a spectacular job in her first Games, but it is Simone Manuel who is also deserving of her own praise. Her first gold medal is also the first medal for an African-American female swimmer in an individual event. She hopes to “lead by example” and I’d say she is at a pretty great start.