Simone Manuel

Simone Manuel, born on August second, nineteen ninety-six, is a distinguished American swimmer renowned for her prowess in freestyle events. She made history at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she clinched two gold medals in the 100-meter freestyle and the 4×100-meter medley, alongside two silver medals in the 50-meter freestyle and the 4×100-meter freestyle relay. Notably, her victory in the 100-meter freestyle, achieved in a tie with Canada's Penny Oleksiak, marked her as the first Black American woman to win an individual Olympic gold in swimming, setting both an Olympic and an American record.

At the subsequent 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Manuel continued to shine, earning a bronze medal as the anchor of the American 4×100-meter freestyle relay team. Her remarkable achievements extend beyond the Olympics; she holds three world records as a member of relay teams and is a six-time individual champion at the NCAA Division I Women's Swimming and Diving Championships. Manuel's legacy includes being one of the first three African-American women to secure a top-three finish in the 100-yard freestyle event at any Division I NCAA Swimming Championship.

Her collegiate journey began at Stanford University in two thousand fourteen, where she swam for the Stanford Cardinal. During her freshman year, she shattered school records in the 50-, 100-, and 200-yard freestyle events, and also set American and NCAA records for the 100-yard freestyle. Over her collegiate career, she won the NCAA championships in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle in two thousand fifteen, two thousand seventeen, and two thousand eighteen, while redshirting in two thousand sixteen.

As a senior, Manuel's exceptional talent was recognized with the Honda Sports Award, honoring her as the nation's best female swimmer, and she also received the Honda Cup for being the best overall female collegiate athlete. In July two thousand eighteen, she transitioned to a professional career, continuing to inspire future generations of swimmers.