Historic win by Manuel felt on Delmarva

Mark Thompson says he’s watched every night of the 2016 Olympics so far.

The Outreach Pastor at Emmanuel Wesleyan Church says he was thrilled to see 20-year-old Simone Manuel make history Thursday night.

“It’s so exciting to see people of different nationalities, different countries, coming together competing in a positive way,” says Thompson.

Thompson admits he was also disappointed.

“We still live in an area where race is still always number one and instead of saying she was an excellent swimmer and beat a record, we had to say she was a black swimmer,” he explains.

Manuel’s gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle does makes her the first African-American woman to win an individual swimming medal at any Olympic Games.

Pastor Thompson acknowledges the sport of swimming is not as popular among African-American youth.

A study from USAswimming.org finds 70 percent of African-American children cannot swim.

Thompson says it has a lot to do with their ease of access.

Autumn Thomas agrees and says that’s why it’s important for the community to be aware of available resources.

Thomas, senior program director at the Henson Family YMCA in Salisbury, says they can subsidize costs for lessons for families with financial needs.

“They can be confident around the water and have fun with their friends regardless of their individual access to pools and proper instruction,” explains Thomas. “They can with their friends that might different access or means and still have friends with them and be included.”

The goal, according to Thompson, is for every child to realize their potential and surrounded by opportunities.

“I’m hoping through all of this and especially now with the swimming, that people…especially African-American children…will see that they have talent and abilities far beyond what people may put on them and they can do anything but it takes effort and it takes work,” he tells 47ABC.

The Women’s Swimming and Diving team at Stanford University, where Thompson attends, took it to Twitter Thursday night after Manuel’s win and tweeted: “We already knew it and now the world does…you’re incredible, @simone_manuel.”