Kate Douglass emerged victorious in the women's 100-meter freestyle event at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials held on Wednesday night. The competition saw Simone Manuel securing a relay spot with a commendable fourth-place finish after overcoming overtraining syndrome.
Simone Manuel, who made history as the first Black woman to clinch an individual swimming gold at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, missed out on the opportunity to compete in the 100 free at the upcoming Paris Games. Torri Huske secured the second individual spot in the event.
Despite being in fourth place at the turn, Kate Douglass showcased a remarkable display of strength and determination, ultimately clinching the top spot with a winning time of 52.56 seconds. Torri Huske followed closely behind with a time of 52.93, while Gretchen Walsh, who initially led the race, finished third in 53.13.
Simone Manuel finished in fourth place with a time of 53.25, securing a potential spot in the Paris Games as a relay option. Abbey Weitzeil, with a time of 53.70, is also likely to join the relay team in Paris.
Simone Manuel's impressive track record includes winning two gold medals and two silvers at the Rio Games, a significant achievement for swimmers of color in a predominantly white sport. However, her journey was marred by overtraining syndrome ahead of the Tokyo Games, leading to physical breakdown.
Despite failing to qualify for the 100 freestyle in Tokyo, Manuel made a strong comeback to secure a spot in the 50 free event. At the Tokyo Olympics, she was eliminated in the semifinals of her sole individual event, with her only medal coming as part of the 4x100 free relay team that finished third.
Following the Olympics, Manuel's doctor advised her to refrain from all physical activity for over six months to allow her body to recover from the strain of overtraining syndrome.
For more updates on the Summer Olympics, visit AP Summer Olympics.
