Simone Manuel was quick to get a rude Twitter user together after he compared her physicality to that of a male athlete.
The Olympic gold medal winner had time Monday and used it to address sexist-fueled ignorance that was spewed at her on Twitter. One user replied to Manuel’s Sunday's 50-meter freestyle victory by comparing her to Philadelphia 76ers player Dwight Howard.
“Congratulations…… First glance I thought this was Dwight Howard,” the Tweet read.
Congratulations…… First glance I thought this was Dwight Howard ???? https://t.co/tXy6kARY8x
— ???? Ben Simmons a HOF ⚫️ (@KingsRealmATL) June 21, 2021
Manuel, who keeps a low profile and said she usually strays from responding to derogatory commentary, responded to the post.
“I usually don’t respond to things like this but we gotta stop calling Black women manly. Have a blessed day,” Manuel replied.
I usually don’t respond to things like this but we gotta stop calling Black women manly. Have a blessed day ???? https://t.co/9JArvUkIQz
— Simone Manuel (@swimone) June 22, 2021
Outside of folks who struggle with sitting on their Twitter fingers, Manuel has much to celebrate. As Blavity previously reported, her Sunday victory secured her spot on the 2021 Olympic swim team.
“When I touched the wall, I literally was, like, ‘Please, God, please,’ and then I turned to my right and saw Abbey shooting over the lane line and I said I at least got first or second,” Manuel told the Houston Chronicle.
“Then to turn around and see the first place was amazing. I had to sit back and just say ‘thank you, God,’ because I wouldn’t have made it here without the strength that he has given me to continue on this path,” she added.
This season has not been easy for Manuel. In March, she was diagnosed with “overtraining syndrome," Yahoo reported. In the months that followed, Manuel experienced insomnia, anxiety, and depression. She even isolated herself away from her family as she dealt with one of the darkest moments in her life.
“My body wasn’t doing what I knew it was capable of. I had moments where I didn’t even want to go to the pool, because I knew it was gonna be bad. … And that was hard for me to grasp during that time," she recalled.
After missing out on qualifying for the 100-meter freestyle, the same event where she made history by winning at the 2016 Rio Olympics, she was grateful to still be headed to the upcoming series of the most widely recognized global sports event.
"More than anything, I'm relieved. Today may have been the longest day of my life and the longest 50 of my life," she continued.
