2016 Rio Olympic Games in Brazil Aug 05-21,2016 - USA's Simone Manuel Wins Gold Medal in the Women's 100m freestyle Thursday Aug 11,2016

USA's Simone Manuel became the first African American woman to ever medal in an individual race after she tied for gold in the Women's 100m freestyle

 

Simone Manuel shared gold with Canada's Penny Olesiak and Sarah Shostrom, of Sweden, took home the bronze

USA's Simone Manuel became the first African-American woman to win an Olympic gold in swimming, it was 16-year-old swimming prodigy Penny Oleksiak who burnished her reputation as one of Canada's premier athletes.

Oleksiak tied with Manuel to take the gold, setting a new Olympic record of 52.70 seconds and making history as the first athlete born in the 21st Century to win an Olympic gold medal in any sport. 

It was the nation's first Olympic swimming title since Mark Tewksbury won the 100m in Barcelona 24 years ago and it was achieved by the youngest gold medallist in Canadian history.

Oleksiak's medal count in Rio included the silver in the 100 fly and two bronze medals from the 4x100 and 4x200 freestyle relays.