For the past few days, people here in America have been flat-out obsessed with Simone Manuel. She is amazing! She just turned 20 years old a few weeks ago, and her Olympic medal haul is historic: she won two golds and two silvers and became the first African-American woman to medal in an individual swimming competition. She won a silver and a gold in individual races and a silver and a gold in the relays. Amazing, dominant, inspirational.
Now that even American sports commentators know her name, it’s my hope that Simone goes pro, meaning she finds a way to make some money off her medals. That will also give her increased visibility within the sport, and she has the potential to fundamentally change the way African-American boys and girls are introduced to swimming. America has a difficult/ugly history with African-Americans and swimming – go here for a primer on that history. Simone doesn’t seem to be playing coy with that history either – she knows that what she did is historic and that she can become the face of African-Americans in the swim community. She also knows that as a high-achieving black athlete, there are expectations for her to speak about larger racial issues. And she delivered.
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 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.”
For Manuel, the victory could not have been sweeter. In the lead-up to the event she forced herself to briefly distance herself from the significance of being a rare black swimmer representing the U.S, in order to focus on chasing victory.
“It is something I’ve definitely struggled with a lot,” Manuel said. “Coming into the race I tried to take weight of the black community off my shoulders. It’s something I carry with me. I want to be an inspiration, but I would like there to be a day when it is not ‘Simone the black swimmer.’ 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.”
I haven’t seen Simone get any sh-t for her comments, but I’m bracing myself all the same. I truly love it when athletes, particularly African-American athletes, speak their truth on a world stage. Whether it’s Muhammed Ali at everything, or Tommie Smith and John Carlos doing the Black Power salute at the 1968 Olympics or Serena Williams taking a stand against all of the racist bulls—t she gets all the time, I think it’s a powerful thing to say “I’m proud of my country, I’m proud of myself, I’m proud of my team, but there are still problems we need to deal with.”
Photos courtesy of Getty.
She’s got the duality down. She understands why it’s important to acknowledge being the first black whatever, and the frustration and sadness that in this day and age, it must still be a thing. Great woman, stateswoman, Olympian.
–TheRealPinky
Well said. I wish her the best!
Sadly, people don’t (or won’t) understand the significance of her achievement. I came across an acquaintance’s post on FB about how she was feeling “annoyed” that the media was making such a big thing about SM’s race. She wondered why the media couldn’t just focus on her win and not her color. In response I posted the Washington Post’s article (The significance of Simone Manuel’s swim is clear if you know Jim Crow) about the importance of SM’s win.
They’re trying to diminish the significance of it. They can’t stand to admit that there are still social barriers in place to exclude people based on race, gender, sexuality, etc.
My mom and I were talking about the lack of African American Olympic swimmers the day before she won her individual gold. We were talking about “wade ins” and how acid was thrown on people protesting segregated public pools by wading in them. When she won the next night we both started bawling. The significance is huge, it’s sad some people refuse to see it.
Good for her! I’m glad she’s using her platform for something so important.
Love her and yes, love how “she’s speaking her truth on a world stage.” I hope we see a lot more of her.
And don’t get me started on the history of African Americans and swimming. I was reading a news story about a boy who recently drowned in Lake Michigan and the troll commenters would not let up about how the parents in black neighborhoods are just too lazy to teach their kids to swim, and how hard is it to find some water and just teach them? The few people who tried to chime in about the lack of access to pools could not get through to this seemingly pitchfork-wielding crowd.
It reminded me yet again why Trump is where he is. Sigh.
Great athlete, great comments, great woman.
People are already trying to erase her blackness by saying “I just saw her as an AMERICAN swimmer” which has me rolling my eyes hard. The fact that she is the first black swimmer to get individual medals says a lot. Hell just look at McKinney just last year
But with Gabby getting a ton of hate lately I would say it’s only a matter of time because the US loves to hate on black excellence or erase the black from it.
Gabby getting hate on twitter is pissing me off. She is an AMAZING olympian but some people would rather criticize her hair. Depressingly amazing.
Manuel is incredible and I hope she can capitalize on the success she earned and get some sponsorship deals. The platform she now has can do a lot of good. But it’s really sad that it’s 2016 and we are just now having the first black swimmer to get an individual medal. Come on America, we can do better.
Amazing athlete, amazing human being. If there are any women out there who have a baby girl on the way…naming her Simone seems like a damn fine plan. Our Simone’s are dominating in every way!
I’m going to also add that they’re both from the Houston area 😀
As is Chris Brooks, the male gymnast, who I knew in high school.
ETA: I also went to Bannon’s where Simone Biles trained when I was a kid. I was terrible!
I hope she finishes at Stanford before going pro. Did you guys see the headline in the SJ Mercury. Then the so called apology. They should be ashamed.
I still cringe when I think about their headline.
If Simone Manuel goes pro, I think her scholarship to college would be at risk, iirc.
This is correct. She can go pro once she finishes college
BLACKGIRLMAGIC I love it, I hope to see more people of colour coming up in swimming, we need more diversity. I loved everything she said.
Go on speak up!!!!!!
YES QUEEN YES!! this was Incredible, she is amazing! me and my mom had a long talk about the significance of this and the history of access to swimming pools in the US (as a foreigner she was unaware of a lot of the History)
Just posted a similar story about me and my mom. But she lived it in Macon, GA so it was more her educating me.
I (mixed race) had the most frustrating conversation with a friend (white) about why there aren’t more black swimmers. We’re Canadian though I’m from the Caribbean. She was all, “but why?” and I was, “Racism. Jim Crow laws” and she goes “But people from the Caribbean know how to swim” and I just spent the next few minutes wishing I could send a head slap via text.
I’m white, but I get SO frustrated when other white people deny the inherent disadvantages POC face.
All hail, Simone! I am so proud of her. She is speaking truth. I’m not here for those attempting to erase her accomplishment under the guise of “we’re all Americans!”. TBH, f-ck that noise. The importance of her victory will not be diminished. Not when less than 50 years ago, we had a motel owner throwing acid in a pool because blacks were swimming in it. Not when less than 2 years ago, a neighborhood association called the police on a black pool party and a hyped up TX law officer body slammed a black girl. No more!
Some of the comments on other outlets regarding her (very apt, very thoughtful, and very true) statements are HORRIFIC. I had to hide a post from someone on facebook because the comments about her literally made me cry.
I think she overcame tremendous odds to secure her place in history.
Speaking her truth, or saying whats on her mind, is a platform that has the potential to be tremendously influential, especially after such a feat.
My hope is that people (beyond this forum of course) can see her, and can continue to see her, as a great athlete with a high standard of right and wrong regardless of whatever double standards/prejudices people have.