Los Angeles –
Simone Manuel will go for gold in the 50 meter freestyle during the third consecutive Olympic Games in Paris, after winning by two-hundredths of a second at the American swimming tests on Sunday.
Manuel, who won 100m freestyle gold and 50m free silver at the Rio Olympics but struggled through a disappointing campaign in Tokyo as she battled the effects of overtraining syndrome, clocked 24.13 seconds ahead of Gretchen Walsh , the top seed going into the final having opened her trials with a world record in the 100 butterfly.
As she checked the scoreboard, Manuel shook her head and smiled as the crowd at Lucas Oil Stadium – home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts – erupted in cheers.
