American Simone Manuel wins gold in women’s 100 freestyle

“This medal is not just for me, it’s for some of the African-Americans that have come before me and have been inspirations and mentors to me”, she said after a dead-heat in the 100 metres freestyle final resulted in two golds being awarded.

Manuel said her first gold, at her first Olympics, was just as surprising and there was an added bonus in setting an American record.

Manuel and Oleksiak shared the top spot on the medal podium, with the USA anthem played first, followed by the Canadian anthem.

The pair touched the wall in an Olympic record 52.70 seconds.

It was the first victory for the U.S. in the women’s 100m freestyle since 1984, when, oddly, Nancy Hogshead and Carrie Steinseifer also shared gold.

The 20-year-old Manuel was third at the turn, while Oleksiak was seventh, but they powered past the competition and went on to share the gold medal. “I never thought I’d win a gold”. “I want to win just like everybody else”.

As she treaded water after her final, Manuel pointed up at the screen above the pool and seemed to be trying to take in what had happened – an understandable response, given the frenzied race she’d just swam.

Nestor – who won Olympic doubles gold in 2000 with Sebastian Lareau – and Pospisil are the No. 7 seeds.

The Olympics charged forward Thursday evening with several dramatic swimming finals.

Zupancic is a three-time Pan Am judo gold medallist, winning in 2010, 2013 and past year at the Toronto Games.

Savard and Ruck were part of the earlier qualifying team for the race but Emily Overholt of West Vancouver, B.C., and Kennedy Goss of Toronto made up the other two.

The United States remained out front with 38 medals, including 16 gold.

– Toronto boxer Arthur “the Chechen Wolf” Biyarslanov wins opening light welterweight bout 3-0 over Jordan’s Obadah Alkasbeh.

Off the field of play, the CBC apologized Thursday morning after one of its Olympic commentators said on the air that a Chinese swimmer “died like a pig” during her race the night before. China placed fourth behind bronze medallist Canada with 14-year-old Ai Yanhan swimming the second leg.