Simone Manuel Wins Gold and Sets New Record for Women’s 100 Meter Freestyle

“This medal is not just for me. It’s for a bunch of people who have come before me and have been an inspiration to me. And it’s for all the people after me who believe they can’t do it. I just want to be an inspiration to others that you can do It.”, Simone Manuel, gold winner at Rio 2016.

Another Black girl has made headlines as she beats all her competitors and wins gold for America at this year’s Olympics dubbed Rio 2016. The glamour of the night’s victory was that she set a new record; by completing her swimming within just 52.70 seconds.

In an exclusive interview, the maiden women’s gold medalist said “This medal is not just for me. It’s for a bunch of people who have come before me and have been an inspiration to me. And it’s for all the people after me who believe they can’t do it. I just want to be an inspiration to others that you can do it.” In other words, she stands to use her medal to motivate lots of young African- Americans.

Going down the line of history, it is told that when it comes to the use of pools by Blacks, it has really been an eyesore with issues of pool owners pouring acids in pools just because Blacks would go and swim in them. This and many others have been the bad path for African-Americans when it comes to swimming.

Serving as a new source of inspiration for young Black Americans everywhere, the star swimmer’s Olympic feat punches a massive hole in the all-too-common stereotypical assertion that Black people can’t and/or don’t swim. Her win puts Blacks on a higher pedestal of achievers.

The sad history of racism and discrimination at America’s swimming pools is all the more reason why fans especially Blacks across the country celebrated the historic win for Manuel. Although these incidents of bigotry predate the Olympic gold athlete, her victory is a symbol of triumph that goes far beyond the swimming pool.

Indeed her medal has broken racial boundaries. We say thumbs up to Manuel and encourage more Blacks to shine in any field we find ourselves.

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