Simone Manuel: Olympic Champion, Diversity Advocate, and the Future of Swimming

If you don’t know the name, Simone Manuel, you should. Manuel carved her name into history at the 2016 Rio Olympics, becoming the first Black woman to win an individual Olympic gold medal in swimming—a barrier-breaking moment that transcended sport. 

With her tie-first finish in the 100 m freestyle, she not only shattered stereotypes but also inspired generations, proving that excellence knows no racial boundaries. 

Born August 2, 1996, Simone was drawn to water at an early age and began competitive swimming as a child in Texas pools. By the time she was ready to go to college, she had already proven to be a world-class swimmer when Stanford came calling, and they became a better swim team because of it. 

While at Stanford, Manuel broke school and American records in the 50-, 100-, and 200-yard freestyle. She won six individual NCAA titles and was honored with the Honda Sports Award and Honda Cup as the top female collegiate athlete. At just 20, Simone tied with Canada’s Penny Oleksiak for Olympic gold, clocking 52.70 seconds—setting both Olympic and American records in the process and sealing her legacy. 

In 2019, she became the first American woman to win both the 50 m and 100 m freestyle at the same World Championships, securing four gold and three silver medals in Gwangju. 

Fighting for medals wasn’t Simone Manuel’s only fight. Following the Tokyo Olympics, she was diagnosed with overtraining syndrome. While that might not seem possible for top-tier athletes, it can be quite debilitating. 

The syndrome, also known as burnout, can cause athletes to experience extreme fatigue and a decline in performance because the body is not given adequate time to recover. Because of this, Manuel took an extended leave from swimming until 2023. 

The rest paid off. In 2024, she rejoined Team USA in the Pairs Olympics — bringing home two silver medals—one in the 4x100m Freestyle Relay and another in the 4x200m Freestyle Relay.

Breaking the color barrier is not something Manuel takes lightly either. In 2018, Manuel became the first athlete to include an inclusion rider in her TYR swimwear contract, ensuring brand campaigns feature representation and diversity.

She told Self Magazine the rider was meant to “provide meaningful opportunities to traditionally under-represented groups.”

As an Olympic champion, world record holder, and outspoken advocate for diversity, Simone Manuel has an impact that will impact generations to come.  As she continues competing, her mission extends far beyond medals.

Whether paving the way through contracts or community projects, her influence reshapes swimming’s cultural landscape. With Paris behind her, her next chapters may involve mentorship, expanded activism, or using her platform to demand equity in sports and society.