24 Facts About Simone Manuel

Simone Ashley Manuel was born on August 2,1996 and is an American professional swimmer specializing in freestyle events.

In winning the 100-meter freestyle, a tie with Penny Oleksiak of Canada, Manuel became the first Black American woman to win an individual Olympic gold in swimming and set an Olympic record and an American record.

Simone Manuel holds three world records as a member of a relay team, and she is a six-time individual NCAA Division I Women's Swimming and Diving Championships champion, becoming one of the first three African-American women to place in the top three spots in the 100-yard freestyle event in any Division I NCAA Swimming Championship.

Simone Manuel broke the school records in the 50-, 100-, and 200-yard freestyle in the same year, and in 2014, her freshman year, she broke the American and National Collegiate Athletic Association records for 100-yard freestyle.

Simone Manuel is a six-time individual NCAA champion: winning the 50- and 100-yard freestyle in 2015,2017, and 2018.

Simone Manuel competed at the 2013 US National Championships, where she finished third in the 100-meter freestyle and second in the 50-meter freestyle events.

Simone Manuel competed in the 2013 Duel in the Pool, where she won first in the 100-meter freestyle, third in the 50-meter freestyle, second in the 400-meter freestyle relay, and first in the 200-meter mixed medley relay.

In 2015, Simone Manuel won her first two individual NCAA championships, winning the 50- and 100-yard freestyle, setting an NCAA, American, US Open, Championship, and Pool record in 100-yard freestyle with a time of 46.09.

Simone Manuel became one of the first three African-American women to place in the top three spots in the 100-yard freestyle event in any Division I NCAA Swimming Championship.

Simone Manuel tied with Penny Oleksiak of Canada for the gold medal in the 100 m freestyle, both setting an Olympic record of 52.70.

Simone Manuel is the first African-American woman to win a gold medal in an individual swimming event and is said to be the first black woman to achieve this.

At the 2017 US Nationals, the qualification meet for the World Championships in Budapest, Simone Manuel won the 50-meter freestyle with a time of 24.27 and touched second in the 100-meter freestyle with a time of 53.05.

At the 2019 World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju, South Korea in July 2019, Simone Manuel became the first female American swimmer to win both the 50-meter freestyle and 100-meter freestyle events at a single FINA long course World Aquatics Championships meet.

Simone Manuel won a total of seven medals, four gold and three silver medals, at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships.

Simone Manuel's accomplishments were highlighted by USA Swimming and she was the recipient of the 2019 "Female Athlete of the Year" award at the 2019 Golden Goggles Awards.

At the 2020 USA Swimming Olympic Trials, postponed to June 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Simone Manuel competed in the 100-meter freestyle and the 50-meter freestyle.

Simone Manuel was selected as one of three first time captains, Allison Schmitt was selected as the only second time captain, along with Ryan Murphy and Caeleb Dressel for the USA Olympic swim team.

Simone Manuel was entered as the anchor, fourth, swimmer for the relay.

On day eight, in the semifinals of the 50-meter freestyle, Simone Manuel finished with a time of 24.63, ranked 11th overall, and did not advance to the final of the event.

Simone Manuel turned to full-time professional swimming in July 2018, forgoing her final collegiate season with Stanford.

Simone Manuel has partnered with multiple organizations and projects whose goal is to extend opportunities and promote inclusion in swimming.

Simone Manuel is an ambassador for the Make A Splash organization headed by the USA Swimming Foundation.

Simone Manuel signed a sponsorship with the popular swimwear company TYR Sport, Inc in 2018 and entered the world of professional swimming.

In 2019 Simone Manuel partnered with LeBron James' Promise School in Akron, Ohio.