Simone Manuel: American Olympic Swimmer
Macro Creator — Swimming & SportsProfessional Swimmer
The first Black woman to win an individual Olympic swimming gold medal, Simone Manuel has built one of the most decorated careers in the sport, with 7 Olympic medals and 13 World Championship golds spanning over a decade.
About Simone Manuel: American Olympic Swimmer
Simone Manuel was born August 2, 1996, in Sugar Land, Texas, and swam collegiately for Stanford University before turning professional. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, she made history as the first Black woman to win an individual Olympic swimming gold medal, tying for gold in the 100m freestyle and adding a second gold in the 4x100m medley relay along with two silver medals. She has been one of the most consistently decorated swimmers of her generation at the World Aquatics Championships, winning 13 career gold medals across individual and relay events between 2013 and 2025, including a sweep of the 50m and 100m freestyle titles plus three relay golds at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju. She added an Olympic bronze in the 4x100m freestyle relay at the 2020 Tokyo Games and two silver medals in relay events at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and continued competing into 2025, winning two more World Championship relay golds in Singapore.
Career Journey
Historic Rio Olympic gold
Manuel became the first Black woman to win an individual Olympic swimming gold medal, tying for gold in the 100m freestyle at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and added a second gold in the 4x100m medley relay.
World Championship dominance
Manuel won multiple gold medals at the 2017 Budapest and 2019 Gwangju World Championships, including sweeping the 50m and 100m freestyle titles in 2019.
Tokyo Olympic medal
Manuel won bronze in the 4x100m freestyle relay at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Continued excellence at Paris and beyond
Manuel won two silver medals in relay events at the 2024 Paris Olympics and continued competing into 2025, adding two more World Championship relay golds in Singapore.
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FAQs
Who is Simone Manuel?
Simone Manuel (born August 2, 1996) is an American swimmer who became the first Black woman to win an individual Olympic swimming gold medal, at the 2016 Rio Olympics in the 100m freestyle.
How many Olympic medals has Simone Manuel won?
She has won 7 career Olympic medals across the 2016 Rio, 2020 Tokyo, and 2024 Paris Games, including 2 gold medals.
Is Simone Manuel still competing?
Yes, she continued competing into 2025, winning two relay gold medals at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.
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Manuel continued competing into 2025, winning two relay gold medals at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore and remaining one of the most decorated active swimmers in the sport.