Five-time Olympic medalist Simone Manuel is an American freestyle swimmer born on August 2, 1996. She went to Standford University from 2014 to 2018, after which she turned professional. At the 2016 Olympics, she was the first black American woman to win a gold medal in swimming. Four of Manuel's five Olympic medals were won at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, including two golds in the 4×100 meter medley and 100-meter freestyle. She was also the captain of the American 4x100-meter freestyle relay team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where they won a bronze medal.
Manuel also holds three world records through the relay team and is also a six-time individual NCAA Division I Women's Swimming and Diving Championships champion and one of the first three African-American women to finish in the top three in the 100-yard freestyle event at any Division I collegiate swimming competition during her Stanford days.
What is Simone Manuel’s 50m freestyle time?
Simone Manuel set a career-best time of 24.07 in the 50-meter freestyle as per the World Aquatics. This was achieved at the 2015 Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool. She also became the first American woman to reach the 24 mark and set a national record.
One of Manuel's fastest times came in the 50-meter freestyle at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials, where she finished in 24.13, two hundredths faster than Gretchen Walsh and slightly slower than her own record of 24.07. Comparing it to her semi-final time of 24.51, it was a significant improvement. Thus, she qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Manuel struggled in Tokyo 2020 after making her Olympic debut in Rio 2016 and winning two golds and two silvers, including a shared gold in the 100m freestyle with Penny Oleksiak of Canada. Before winning bronze with the 4x100m freestyle relay team, she struggled with overtraining syndrome throughout the trials.
Manuel's career-bests’ as per the World Aquatics, are as follows:
| Event | Time | Medal | Pool Len. | Age | Competition | Date |
| Women 50 Freestyle | 24.07 | - | 25m | 19 | Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool 2015 | 12/12/2015 |
| Women 100 Freestyle | 51.69 | - | 25m | 19 | Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool 2015 | 11/12/2015 |
| Women 4x100 Freestyle Relay | 03:28.96 | - | 25m | - | Duel in the Pool 2013 | 20/12/2013 |
| Women 4x100 Medley Relay | 03:45.20 WR | - | 25m | - | Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool 2015 | 11/12/2015 |
| Mixed 4x50 Medley Relay | 01:37.17 WR | - | 25m | - | Duel in the Pool 2013 | 20/12/2013 |
| Women 50 Freestyle | 23.97 AM NR | Bronze | 50m | 20 | 17th FINA World Championships 2017 | 30/07/2017 |
| Women 100 Freestyle | 52.04 AM NR | Gold | 50m | 22 | 18th FINA World Championships 2019 | 26/07/2019 |
| Women 200 Freestyle | 01:56.09 | - | 50m | 22 | 18th FINA World Championships 2019 | 25/07/2019 |
| Women 50 Backstroke | 29.31 | - | 50m | 22 | TYR Pro Swim Series Knoxville 2019 | 10/01/2019 |
| Women 100 Backstroke | 01:01.11 | - | 50m | 21 | Indianapolis PSS 2018 | 19/05/2018 |
| Women 50 Butterfly | 26.55 | - | 50m | 22 | Santa Clara Swim Club International Meet 2019 | 08/06/2019 |
| Women 100 Butterfly | 01:00.81 | - | 50m | 22 | TYR Pro Swim Series Bloomington 2019 | 19/05/2019 |
| Women 200 Medley | 02:16.42 | - | 50m | 18 | CA Speedo Grand Challenge 2015 | 22/05/2015 |
| Women 4x100 Freestyle Relay | 03:30.20 AM NR | Silver | 50m | - | Olympic Games Paris 2024 | 27/07/2024 |
| Women 4x200 Freestyle Relay | 07:41.87 AM NR | Silver | 50m | - | 18th FINA World Championships 2019 | 25/07/2019 |
| Women 4x100 Medley Relay | 03:50.40WR | Gold | 50m | - | 18th FINA World Championships 2019 | 28/07/2019 |
| Mixed 4x100 Freestyle Relay | 03:19.40WR | Gold | 50m | - | 18th FINA World Championships 2019 | 27/07/2019 |
| Mixed 4x100 Medley Relay | 03:38.56WR | Gold | 50m | - | 17th FINA World Championships 2017 | 26/07/2017 |
FAQ's On Simone Manuel’s 50-mFree Time
A. Simone Manuel's 50-meter freestyle time is 24.07 seconds in the long course and 23.97 seconds in the short course.
A. Yes, Simone Manuel has qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
A. Simone Manuel stands 5 feet 10 inches, or 178 cm., tall.
A. In 2016, Simone Manuel made history as the first black female swimmer to represent Team USA in the Olympics.
A. Yes, Simone Manuel won two gold medals at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics in the 4×100 meter and 100-meter freestyle.
