{"id":20933,"date":"2021-06-20T22:06:16","date_gmt":"2021-06-21T03:06:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=20933"},"modified":"2021-06-20T22:06:16","modified_gmt":"2021-06-21T03:06:16","slug":"u-s-s-simone-manuel-wins-50-meter-freestyle-to-lock-up-spot-on-tokyo-olympics-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=20933","title":{"rendered":"U.S.’s Simone Manuel wins 50-meter freestyle to lock up spot on Tokyo Olympics team"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Simone Manuel qualifies for Tokyo Olympics<\/h1>\n
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Simone Manuel\u00a0qualified for the U.S. Olympic swim team for Tokyo in her last chance, winning the 50m freestyle on the final day of the Olympic Trials in Omaha.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Manuel, who was diagnosed with overtraining syndrome in March and was out of the pool for three weeks, won the 50m free in 24.29 seconds. She prevailed by .01 over Abbey Weitzeil, who also made the team in the event.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Last week, Manuel failed to qualify for the final of the 100m freestyle, which she won at the Rio Olympics. Then she shared her diagnosis, impacting her ability to train leading up to the Trials, and that she dealt with depression this year.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThis year has been difficult, especially the last couple months,\u201d Manuel, who won a female record seven medals at the 2019 World Championships, said on NBC. \u201cBefore I dove in, I felt like it was my moment.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

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U.S.’s Simone Manuel wins 50-meter freestyle to lock up spot on Tokyo Olympics team<\/h1>\n<\/header>\n
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When Simone Manuel whipped around to see the “1” beside her name, months of emotions came pouring out.<\/strong><\/p>\n

She closed her eyes, brought her hands together in prayer and struggled to hold back the tears.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Abbey Weitzeil, the woman she had just beaten, leaped over the lane rope with a huge smile — so happy for her friend that she didn’t mind settling for the runner-up spot Sunday.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Everyone in the stands leaped to their feet, saluting Manuel’s perseverance with an ovation that rocked the Omaha arena.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Days after revealing she was diagnosed with overtraining syndrome, Manuel provided the most stirring moment of the entire U.S. Olympic swimming trials on its final night by winning the chaotic 50-meter freestyle.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was all or nothing for Manuel, whose Olympic hopes came down to one hectic dash from one end of the pool to the other.<\/strong><\/p>\n

She got there first, locking up a trip to Tokyo and the chance to make more history — five years becoming the first Black woman to win a gold medal in an individual swimming event.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“More than anything, I’m relieved,” she said. “Today may have been the longest day of my life and the longest 50 of my life.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

While Manuel is heading back to the Olympics, Nathan Adrian’s bid for a fourth appearance at the Summer Games came up just short when he finished third in the men’s 50 free.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Caeleb Dressel tied his American record with another dominating performance, touching about a half-body length ahead of Michael Andrew in 21.04 seconds.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Get ready, Tokyo. Dressel will have three individual races at the Olympics, not to mention at least three relays. Plenty of chances to live up the hype as America’s next great men’s swimming star after the retirement of Michael Phelps.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“This is brutal, the pressure. I like it,” Dressel said. “I’m happy we executed well and in a month we get to go have some more fun.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Andrew earned his third individual event at the Olympics by touching second in 21.48, while Adrian was next at 21.73.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dressel hopped on the lane rope and splashed the water, while a gracious Adrian came over to congratulate the winner.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 32-year-old Adrian beat testicular cancer and arrived at Omaha as a new father. He hoped to cap the tumultuous journey with a fourth Olympics, but the eight-time medalist failed to qualify for the final of the 100 free and wasn’t quite fast enough over one lap, either.<\/strong><\/p>\n

That’s OK.<\/strong><\/p>\n

He was eager to see his 4-month-old daughter, Parker.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“My heart kind of explodes just thinking about it,” Adrian said. “I’m so excited go hang out with her and hold her. I’ve got a lot to look forward to when I get home.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bobby Finke won the final event of the trials, romping to victory in the 1,500 freestyle in 14 minutes, 46.06 seconds. He was about a half-pool length ahead of runner-up Michael Brinegar, who touched in 15:00.87 and also is Tokyo-bound.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Finke doubled up his Olympic racing schedule after previously winning the 800 free, posting a career best and the fourth-fastest time in the world this year in the 1,500.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“That time means a lot,” he said. “I’ve been waiting to drop in that race for a couple of years now. I’m going to go to Tokyo and try to improve my time.”<\/strong><\/p>\n