RIO DE JANEIRO — Simone Manuel woke up Friday morning to confirmation that her victory in the 100-meter freestyle a few hours earlier had not been a dream. The proof was perhaps more surreal than Thursday night’s payoff: Instagram messages from LeBron James and Serena Williams.
Manuel’s friend and fellow trailblazer Lia Neal had forwarded the messages after stumbling across them on Twitter.
“I was like, ‘Oh my God, I wish I could see her reaction right now,’” Neal said. “She doesn’t need to hear from anyone else. Those are like her two favorite athletes.