{"id":590012,"date":"2024-06-23T17:18:36","date_gmt":"2024-06-24T00:18:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=590012"},"modified":"2024-06-23T18:39:43","modified_gmt":"2024-06-24T01:39:43","slug":"u-s-olympic-trials-simone-manuel-drops-24-13-to-win-50-free","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/u-s-olympic-trials-simone-manuel-drops-24-13-to-win-50-free\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Olympic Trials: Simone Manuel Drops 24.13 to Win 50 Free"},"content":{"rendered":"

U.S. Olympic Trials: Simone Manuel Drops 24.13 to Win 50 Free<\/strong><\/p>\n

All of the talk Saturday night, after semifinals of women\u2019s 50 freestyle at U.S. Olympic Trials, focused on other people. Could Torri Huske<\/strong> or Gretchen Walsh<\/strong> crack 24 seconds? Could Abbey Weitzeil<\/strong> get on the team in an individual event?<\/p>\n

If anyone forgot about Simone Manuel,<\/strong> it was at their own peril.<\/p>\n

Manuel blasted a time of 24.13 to win the event at Lucas Oil Stadium, giving her an individual swim at her third straight Olympics.<\/p>\n

“It means a lot,” Manuel sad. “This meet hasn\u2019t been exactly what I wanted or what I worked hard for. It\u2019s been a roller coaster. I\u2019m grateful to be back on the team, and that\u2019s how I was feeling after the 100 free but also disappointed in the time. I really wanted to try to refocus\u00a0 for the 50, get back on the team in an individual swim.<\/p>\n

“It means the world, and I\u2019m glad that I continued to keep fighting, regardless of what\u2019s thrown at me. I think even more so than just getting the first place is continue to show up and try to be my best every time I step up on the blocks.”<\/p>\n

Second was Gretchen Walsh<\/strong>, who went 24.15, to grab the second individual spot ahead of Weitzeil (24.26) and Huske (24.33).<\/p>\n