Simone Manuel, Olympic gold medalist and co-founder of TOGETHXR, delivered a powerful message about representation and equity in sports media during her appearance at the inaugural Forbes Women in Sports Summit in September.
The swimmer highlighted the need for accurate and respectful coverage of athletes, particularly women and athletes of color.
Manuel, 27, reflected on a striking example of media misrepresentation following her historic gold medal win at the 2016 Olympics.
“There was an article that was like, Michael Phelps shares historic night with Black American. And it’s like, okay, this gold medal is the first of its kind. I’m a history maker, and you’re saying I’m sharing it with Michael Phelps?” she recounted.
Shifting Narratives
These experiences fueled Manuel’s passion for creating spaces where athletes’ stories are told with the respect and recognition they deserve.
TOGETHXR, the media and lifestyle brand she co-founded, aims to challenge stereotypes and celebrate athletes’ full humanity.
“It has been an important mission of TOGETHXR to portray us in a positive light, to celebrate our accomplishments in and out of our field of play,” Manuel said. “There’s the athletic side, but there’s also the human side. We should be worthy of receiving flowers for our accomplishments as well.”
Impact Beyond the Pool
Manuel’s advocacy goes beyond her own achievements in swimming. As the first Black woman to win an individual Olympic gold medal in swimming, she continues to push for broader representation in a sport and media landscape that often marginalizes athletes of color.
TOGETHXR, which Manuel co-founded with fellow athletes Alex Morgan, Chloe Kim, and Sue Bird, focuses on amplifying diverse voices and redefining how female athletes are represented in media.
