Simone Manuel becomes first black woman to win individual Olympic swimming gold [PHOTO]

USA's 20 year old Simone Manuel created history as she won a gold medal in the women's 100m freestyle making her the first black woman to win a Gold medal in an individual event in swimming for the United States.

After she won, with tears in her eyes during her interview said:

'This medal is not just for me, it's for a whole bunch of people who have come before me and have been an inspiration to me.' 'And it's for all the people after me who believe you can't do it'. 'I just want to be an inspiration to others that you can do it.'

Manuel finished first in a tie with Canada's Penny Oleksiak who also won a gold medal. Manuel came from behind in the race, taking third place at the 50m turn, then passed into second place, swimming it out with Oleksiak. They touched the finishing line together, down to one hundredth of a second. 

Manuel, who has also won silver in the 4x100m freestyle relay, broke into tears after the interview. 

Team USA hasn't won a gold in women's 100m freestyle since 1984.