Simone Biles and Simone Manuel have become a source of inspiration for little girls all over the nation. Manuel’s rise to fame happened in a matter of minutes as the swimmer tied for gold in the 100m freestyle during the Olympics on Thursday night. Biles, however has had America’s attention since the Olympic trials back in July.
Representation matters. I cannot stress this enough. When black kids are watching TV, looking in magazines and realizing that no one looks like them, it’s a terrible experience that no child wants to go through; but suddenly, something changes and you see representation on one of the biggest stages.
On Sunday, I was watching the Olympics and see that there's not only one girl who looks like me, but two.
They are both flying through the air, making graceful turns and leaps, both on a beam and a mat. Suddenly, I felt this feeling inside. The feeling is warm and tingly as I envisioned myself flying through the air, making those leaps and turns and hearing the crowd scream my name, as they did for the two girls you watched on tv.
I recognized one of the girls from four years ago, Gabby Douglas, who took home gold in the all-around and ignited that same feeling I have right now.
I soon learned the name of the new girl: Simone Biles.
Before every event Simone is in, the announcers tell of all the awards she has won, and it's been a lot. Hearing all her accomplishments made me proud to be a black woman, because gymnastics is a sport that not many black children get a chance at trying, so I knew she would be another source of inspiration to girls.
The next event up is swimming. Even though I'm not that big into swimming as I am with gymnastics, I still watched Thursday night. As the announcers say who's going to be swimming for the United States, I noticed another girl who looks like me.
The announcers don't pay that much attention to her, but I do. I try to find her lane as the camera pans to the other swimmers, but I can't find her until the race is almost over.
I, and the announcers then realize, she's about to win gold. And she does(she ties, but she still won)!
The announcers say the American who won is: Simone Manuel. Another Simone won gold in a white-dominating sport! The same feelings of happiness and excitement return as they play the tape back showing Manuel’s winning stroke as she hits the wall.
Manuel is the first black woman, that I remember, to be in a water based sport and make it all the way to the Olympics.
Manuel is also the first black woman to win gold in women's freestyle.
Manuel is also another source of inspiration to an older generation. Many remember hearing about what happened after actress Dorothy Dandridge put her foot in a pool -- a hotel in Las Vegas drained the whole pool after Dandridge dipped her foot in it -- and seeing Manuel win, is a great moment in history.
Knowing the numbers of black women, men and children who can swim are low, I think seeing Manuel make it to the Olympics and win, will inspire a new generation of swimmers.
Manuel must have been thinking the same thing, because she credited her win to everyone who inspired her and made her great.
Not only are Biles and Manuel award winning Olympians, they have inspired a new generation of swimmers and gymnasts. One day, a kid will say, “I made it this far because of Simone.”
So, thank you to the Gabby Douglas', Simone Manuel’s and Simone Biles' of whatever sport you play, you inspired not only me, but another generation.
