Simone & Simone: Different Paths, Same Results
This Olympics has showcased the talents of many remarkable history making athletes none more impressive than gymnast Simone Biles or as electrifying as swimmer Simone Manuel. And although Both reached the top of the podium multiple times their journey are a stark contrast to on another. Starting with vastly different upbringings and ending with deviating levels of anticipated success. However, despite the asymmetry of their lives to this point they been able to make history and destroy the record books none the less.
Humble Beginnings
Simone Biles was born on March 14, 1997, in Columbus, Ohio. Her mother, Shanon Biles, a frequent abuser of drugs an alcohol was unable to care for Simone or her other children. Luckily Simone’s maternal grandfather and his wife were able to step in and provide a somewhat stable environment for Simone and her siblings as they moved from Ohio to Spring Texas. As fate would have just 44 Miles down the road in Sugar Land Texas a young Simone Manuel would being brought up by a two former college athlete parents in upper middle class home.
Manuel was introduced to competitive sports at an early age, receiving swimming lessons at the age of four, while being pushed toward nothing but excellence. However Biles had the fortune of being introduce to gymnastics during a stay at a summer camp and she did not begin training until the age of 8 when her family was final able to invest in what was her tremendous gift.
As time passed both Biles and Manuel would encounter adversity during the earlier part of their respective careers. Biles struggled to find her footing in her foray into competitive gymnastics. Her first two years on the Junior and Senior circuit were marred with several mediocre finishes including a 20th place showing in the all-around in the 2011 Cover Girl Classic. But things would improve due to her choice to switch from public school to becoming home schooled in order to train more. This coupled with a new found determination to make all the sacrifices she had made up to that point mean something more.
The Rise To Dominance
The young swimmer from across town however took a different route. Simone Manuel did not really begin honing her skills and competing at a high level until she arrived at Stanford University in 2014. As a freshman the southeast Texas native was somewhat a prodigy. She rewrote the record books setting new school marks in the 50, 100, 200, meter freestyle. She also set the NCAA record for the 100 meter freestyle in her first year. However, despite her success in the collegiate ranks, consistent 1st place finishes seemed to evade her on the international level as she would place 4th, 6th, and 8th, respectively in her heaps at the 2015 World Championships.
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2015 for Biles on the other hand was the beginning of her ascent into greatness. She would all her events in both the AT&T American Cup as well as the Secret US Classic. Besting 2012 Olympic all-around champion Gabby Douglas in the latter competition. She would also cap the year off by becoming only the second gymnast ever to win three all-around national titles. By the time 2016 rolled it was clear she would be the favorite to dominate in Rio. National titles in that years floor and vault routines only solidified the dominance that was soon to come on the Olympic Stage.
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Resetting The Record Books in Rio
Manuel qualified for the games in Rio by finishing 2nd in the 50 and 100 meter freestyle and 7th in the 200 meter respectively. These showings however would pale in comparison to what she would accomplish with the world watching. The former Cardinal would take silver in the 4 x 100 freestyle relay silver in 50 meter freestyle, gold in the 4 x 100 meter medley, and become the first African American Woman ever to win a an individual gold medal in swimming, when she tied for 1st place in the 100 meter freestyle. Taking home four medals in all and making history in the process. The importance of what Manuel accomplished in the pool in Rio can’t be overstated. It is a glaring look at just how far America has come as a country. Who would have thought that a nation that once saw pool completely drained because Dorothy Dandridge stuck her toe in it, would come to see another black woman swim for gold with the world watching and afterwards drape the flag across her back. From not being allowed to be in the pool to owning it on the worlds grandest stage. One thing is for sure, it is safe to say the little girl from the small town in southeast Texas will forever be a household name.
As impressive as Manuel was in Rio. Simone Biles was even greater. This year’s US Women Olympic Gymnastics team was already poised for greatness and entered the games with lofty expectations. Biles would make sure that the overwhelming favorites in the gymnastics category would not disappoint. The multiple time World Champion dazzled and dominated throughout the entire Olympics. Biles would strike gold not once, not twice, not thrice but 4 times. In breathtaking fashion she nabbed 1st in the team all around, individual all around, vault, and floor exercise. Her 2.1 point margin of victory in the all-around was the largest in over 30 years. She wasn’t just good, she was spectacular. Biles dominance in the 2016 Olympic Games was the stuff of legend and has put her in the stratosphere and made her won of the most celebrated athletes on the planet.
Whether it be a journey riddled with heartache and instability like that of Simone Biles or one of triumphs and tribulations like that of Simone Manuel. History was made in Rio. Not only by those two amazing and talented young women but also by Michelle Carter who captured Gold in the shot put becoming the first America woman to do so. These Olympics and sports in general have shown time and time again that the old adage is indeed true it is not where you start but where you finish that truly matters.