Simone Manuel, arguably the world’s most clutch swimmer, stared down a 50-meter pool on Sunday night. She knew that, after a beep, the next 25 seconds — after five years and thousands of hours in the water — would determine if she made it back to the Olympics.
“Before I dove in,” she said, “I felt like it was my moment.”
Manuel qualified for the U.S. Olympic swim team in her final chance, winning the 50m freestyle on the eighth and final day of the Olympic Trials. She did so three days after failing to make the final of the 100m free — her Olympic gold-medal event — and disclosing that she was diagnosed with overtraining syndrome that significantly affected her prep all spring.