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11 tweets show why Simone Biles and Simone Manuel's Olympic wins are so important.
These powerhouse ladies won the world this week.
08.12.16
Get ready for every baby girl born in the latter half of 2016 to be named Simone.
Considering the incredible performances of not one but two Olympians named Simone, it's looking like the name itself may forever be equated with success.
Simone Biles (left) and Simone Manuel (right) kicking ass respectively. Photos by Alex Livesey/Getty Images and Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images.
</div></div></div><h2>After her incredible run of gold medals in Rio, it's no surprise that Simone Biles is being called <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/12/sports/olympics/simone-biles-womens-gymnastics-all-around-gold.html" target="_blank">the world's best gymnast</a>. </h2><p>Not only is she one of the most medaled gymnasts in history, her performance on Aug. 11, 2016, earned her a gold medal in individual all-around competition with what ESPN noted was the <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/763848136544641024" target="_blank">largest margin seen since 2006</a>. </p><div><div class="push-wrapper--mobile" data-card="image" data-reactroot=""><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTUxOTUxNy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNTkxMDUxOH0.J8VNOUUY7Q7C3KPWhqEt03PE6n9V4mFR4QdeNyriuZM/img.jpg?width=980" id="56ef3" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="25500924c9b516113d45c147d2ad7d35" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><div class="image-caption"><p>Simone Biles soaring high. Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images.</p></div></div></div><p>As female athletes have been compared to their male peers over and over again throughout the Rio Olympics (and many others), Biles decided to put a stop to it with <a href="https://mic.com/articles/151387/in-one-quote-simone-biles-perfectly-summed-up-her-remarkable-olympic-legacy#.jHne7RDmU" target="_blank">one powerful phrase</a>:</p><h2>"I'm not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps. I'm the first Simone Biles."</h2><div><div class="push-wrapper--mobile" data-card="image" data-reactroot=""><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTUxOTUxOC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwMDg2OTI1NX0.KCfONaKqziizmDHYyw6l0T4DUg7qjZb65tDTcWMJzqE/img.jpg?width=980" id="65bda" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8a16dc816597c6e5f2a8b7711c015fe2" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><div class="image-caption"><p>Just making sure it's real. Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images.</p></div></div></div><p>She's not the only Simone making waves at the Olympics. Team USA swimmer Simone Manuel is literally making waves, by shattering glass ceilings (figuratively) in the pool.</p><h2>On Aug. 11, Simone Manuel became the first black female swimmer ever to take the gold in an individual event, when she tied with Penny Oleksiak in the 100-meter freestyle. </h2><p>While that's meaningful in its own right, Manuel took it one giant step further by noting what her win means in the context of the increased awareness around incidents of police brutality and discrimination that black people have faced, especially in the past few years. </p><p>"Coming into the race I tried to take weight of the black community off my shoulders. It’s something I carry with me. I want to be an inspiration, but I would like there to be a day when it is not 'Simone the black swimmer,'"<strong> </strong>she <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/rio-2016/2016/08/12/simone-manuel-gold-medalist-police-brutality-african-american-swimmer/88603406/" target="_blank">told USA Today</a>. </p><div><div class="push-wrapper--mobile" data-card="image" data-reactroot=""><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTUxOTUxOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0OTUzMzkyOH0.R0u73rhHgHZRDg7bUDLaRXjPaTzM1jQq-r1B-FM-SjY/img.jpg?width=980" id="0b9aa" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="213bbc21735cdd7a22810e5d79029998" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><div class="image-caption"><p>Manuel receiving her gold medal. Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images.</p></div></div></div><p>It's not surprising the world has fallen in love with these two women named Simone. Even more inspiring is that they're paving the way for black young women everywhere who aspire to one day be competitive athletes. </p><p><strong>Here are 11 people who have been totally and personally inspired by the history-making achievements of Simone Biles and Simone Manuel: </strong></p><h2>1. This person who saw three girls who found a new role model in Simone Biles.</h2><h2>2. This person who wants us to appreciate that breaking barriers is what the Olympics is all about.</h2><div id="5d0c9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="U6CEGY1582924018"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="763964363510165504" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">.@simone_manuel pushes the door wide open inspiring others. This is what the #Olympics are all about. #100mfreestyle https://t.co/B9HIoXowmW</div> — Jennifer Beals (@Jennifer Beals)<a href="https://twitter.com/jenniferbeals/statuses/763964363510165504">1470978272.0</a></blockquote></div><h2>3. This person who noted that Simone Manuel's victory is historical in more ways than one.</h2><div id="1f74e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="BPKMW41582924018"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="763934135643541505" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">One time black people weren't allowed in swimming pools
Now Simone Manuel wins the #Gold in freestyle for #TeamUSA https://t.co/yigerux4yn</div> — Yukio Strachan (@Yukio Strachan)<a href="https://twitter.com/boldandworthy/statuses/763934135643541505">1470971065.0</a></blockquote></div><h2>4. This person who has just realized that God is a woman. And an athlete.</h2><div id="68f4d" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4ZAO7U1582924018"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="762443394832490497" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">I have seen the face of god, and it is Simone Biles on floor exercise.</div> — Morgan Hughes (@Morgan Hughes)<a href="https://twitter.com/Morgan_Hughes/statuses/762443394832490497">1470615645.0</a></blockquote></div><h2>5. This person who recognized the pure poetry of Simone Biles and Simone Manuel's achievements.</h2><div id="b9de2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3OIWVX1582924018"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="763956286039871493" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">"Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me."
~ M. Angelou
#SimoneManuel #SimoneBiles https://t.co/ePIktlRY7A</div> — TariqTouré طارق تورى (@TariqTouré طارق تورى)<a href="https://twitter.com/TariqToure/statuses/763956286039871493">1470976346.0</a></blockquote></div><h2>6. This person who set the bar low for herself but was still totally inspired.</h2><div id="6e241" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="DK0GTC1582924018"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="763100734674112512" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Again, I would like to be as good at anything as @Simone_Biles is on her "worst" event</div> — Nancy Armour (@Nancy Armour)<a href="https://twitter.com/nrarmour/statuses/763100734674112512">1470772367.0</a></blockquote></div><h2>7. This person who pointed out how very real #BlackGirlMagic is. </h2><h2>8. This person who walks taller, because Simone Biles.</h2><h2>9. This aunt who has a lot of swim meets in her future.</h2><h2>10. This person who honored Simone Manuel with an amazing illustration.</h2><h2>11. This person who remembered <a href="http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/114172%7C0/Starring-Dorothy-Dandridge.html" target="_blank">Dorothy Dandridge's</a> conflict with pools.</h2><div id="3fd93" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="PS8PK51582924019"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="763938076376702976" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Never forget.
They drained an entire swimming pool because Dorothy Dandridge stuck her toe in it.
That is why Simone Manuel is important</div> — George M Johnson (@George M Johnson)<a href="https://twitter.com/IamGMJohnson/statuses/763938076376702976">1470972005.0</a></blockquote></div><h2>12. And this person who knows the haters are just gonna have to deal with it. </h2><div id="008a9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="003D5R1582924019"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="763926587561488384" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">black women are coming for ALL THESE SPORTS.
Simone Biles.
Simone Manuel.
THEY HERE. AND YOU GON DEAL.</div> — bitchipedia (@bitchipedia)<a href="https://twitter.com/such_A_frknlady/statuses/763926587561488384">1470969266.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Simone Biles and Simone Manuel are the future of the Olympics and are making people across the country proud to be themselves and proud to be Americans. </p><p>At the rate these talented ladies are going, it might soon be time to rename the gold medal "The Simone." Just a suggestion. </p>
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