RIO DE JANEIRO – Simone Manuel almost did it again.
Two days after becoming the first African-American female swimmer to win an individual gold medal, the 20-year-old took the silver in the 50-meter freestyle Saturday at Aquatics Stadium with a time of 24.09 seconds. The gold went to Denmark’s Pernille Blume, the 22-year-old who finished in 24.07.
Amid a nearly packed venue that was already buzzing in anticipation of what is expected to be Michael Phelps’ final night of Olympic competition, Manuel — who won the 100 free on Thursday — was just a fingernail away in her follow-up event.