Simone Manuel on 2021 Olympic berth: “I don’t quit”

2021 U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS

Reported by James Sutherland.

WOMEN’S 50 FREE FINAL

  • World Record: Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 23.67 (2017)
  • American Record: Simone Manuel – 23.97 (2017)
  • US Open Record: Simone Manuel (USA) – 24.10 (2018)
  • World Junior Record: Claire Curzan (USA) – 24.17 (2021)
  • 2016 Olympic Champion: Pernille Blume (DEN) – 24.07
  • 2016 US Olympic Trials Champion: Abbey Weitzeil – 24.28
  • Wave I Cut: 25.99
  • Wave II Cut: 25.65
  • FINA ‘A’ Cut: 24.77
  1. Simone Manuel (ALTO), 24.29
  2. Abbey Weitzeil (CAL), 24.30
  3. Torri Huske (AAC), 24.46

Simone Manuel has always thrived under pressure, and she delivered in spades in tonight’s women’s 50 free final.

Manuel, 24, edged out a tightly-bunched field at the finishing wall in a time of 24.29, qualifying her for the U.S. Olympic team after missing the 100 free final.

Manuel’s time is her fastest since the 2019 World Championships, where she was the gold medalist in a time of 24.05.

Taking the runner-up spot was Abbey Weitzeil, meaning the two women that represented the U.S. in this event in Rio will do so again in Tokyo.

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Swimfan
3 years ago

I know It sounds cheesy but after the Aussie trials they were favorites to sweep the 3 relays (try he medlay relay towards the Americans tho) when Simone finished 9th and the #2 american All time commerford missed the final the amount of desperation for Manuel to make the team as a spectator was high! Personally I feel brown and weitzeil are good but nowhere near the Aussie top 4 (who all went under 52 at trials) and with curzan and huske perform below expectations I felt that even the medlay relay was in danger

With that being said I feel pretty good about the relays in Tokyo
400 free relay (hinds Schmitt deloof and huske/ledecky for prelims) and… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by Swimfan
Smith-King-Huske-Manuel
Reply to  Swimfan
3 years ago

Aside from the women’s 4 x 100 meter medley relay (that’s if Simone Manuel returns to form in the women’s 100 meter freestyle at the Olympic Team Training Camp), who are you crappin’?

Putting lipstick on a pig, it’s still a pig.

Smith-King-Huske-Manuel
3 years ago

It’s time to get back to work in the women’s 100 meter freestyle because the women’s 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay needs a miracle:

AUS
CAN – unless Tuck craters
NED – Kromowidjojo/Heemskerk
CHN – always mysterious
GBR

Swimken
3 years ago

The heat that Simone gets is so similar to the heat that the William sisters get in tennis. Strong black women rising to the top of their sport always seem to attract the trolls.

swimapologist
Reply to  Swimken
3 years ago

Any chance you can be more specific about your comparison?

Most of the critique I hear about Serena is over her treatment of officials. I don’t think I’ve ever heard Simone say ““I swear to God I’ll f***ing take the ball and shove it down your f***ing throat.”

It seems to me as though the heat that Serena gets in tennis is so similar to the heat that John McEnroe got in tennis. John McEnroe was a white man, though, so that doesn’t really complete the analogy.

I guess Serena got some criticism for being too old and that she should retire earlier this year that became a big deal, but that reminds me of the criticism that Ryan Lochte receives in swimming, so again… Read more »

swammer2009
3 years ago

That was a great interview! Regardless of your personal thoughts on Simone, she was able to bounce back after defeat & come out on top. Anyone who has been an athlete (or suffered adversity in life) will understand how extremely tough this is to do. Especially mentally.

BSD
3 years ago

Simone haters coming out from hiding now, y’all were quiet for a looong time. Get it out while you can lol

Not Tapered 🏊
Reply to  BSD
3 years ago

Fans have historically been harsh on top tier athletes. I wonder how much of this is the fans believing she was our best chance at gold in the 100 and for that relay to be successful. They are just venting on that frustration.

Jethro
3 years ago

Nothing against Simone but the gushing over her is over the top. It’s good for NBC and her sponsors and the overall marketing strategies aligned with her. I was so tired hearing “she has to be on the team”. It’s insulting to the other women trying to make the team. Her like 8 references to God in her post race interview also annoying. I’m sure God doesn’t care if she gets top 2 in the 50.Shes on the team but team would’ve been fine without her.

Alex Dragovich
Reply to  Jethro
3 years ago

Lol “nothing against Simone”…except these several things

Jethro
Reply to  Alex Dragovich
3 years ago

I don’t dislike Simone. She’s not the 1 saying , omg she has to make team or team is doomed. Thank god once and move on. Adrian on the other hand handled everything with class. I am buying Modello next time I buy beer.

Smith-King-Huske-Manuel
Reply to  Alex Dragovich
3 years ago

Let’s start with a laundry list of items.

Breezeway
3 years ago

Always knew the hate for Simone was simmering beneath the surface for a lot of people. It couldn’t rise to the top because she was winning. As soon as she slipped up with a bad race/meet, the snakes reveal themselves.

Simone has carried US female sprinting on her back for the past 5 years. Nobody else has stepped up in a country of 300 million people to constantly battle and win against Kromo, Blume, SS, C-1, C2, McKeon, etc. I got much respect for Comerford and Abbey because they’ve shown up at times. C1 said it, AUS with 23 million people has 4 women under 53 secs and 6 under 53.5 secs in the 100free right now. The US has… Read more »

Alex Dragovich
Reply to  Breezeway
3 years ago

I remember being struck by how hateful the comments were on here during the 2019 World Championships when she had arguably one of her best meets. Mel Stewart has said that there is a particular intensity to the way people go after Manuel. It’s disheartening and infuriating…and not at all surprising.

Tttt
Reply to  Alex Dragovich
3 years ago

We all know why. Swimming is white mans sport full of racism

Smith-King-Huske-Manuel
Reply to  Breezeway
3 years ago

Sarah Sjostrom is the name to worry about in the women’s 100 meter freestyle.

The following have never medalled in the women’s 100 meter freestyle at the Summer Olympics:

C1 = Choke 1
C2 = Choke 2
McKeon

It’s time for Penny Oleksiak to show that the 2016 Summer Olympics performance in the women’s 100 meter freestyle was no fluke.

Erin
Reply to  Smith-King-Huske-Manuel
3 years ago

How out of touch are you? Sjostrom is recovering from an olecranon fracture just months ago. And Penny hasn’t been a factor since 2016.

Smith-King-Huske-Manuel
Reply to  Erin
3 years ago

Positive mental attitude.

Beat those Aussies! Oi! Oi! Oi!

Texas Tap Water
3 years ago

Good for you Simone!

Such a super strong human being!

Extremely rare for an athlete to defeat OTS in a couple of days.

Hoping the coaches will select you to anchor all relays. Australia should be afraid. Very afraid!

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

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