Simone Manuel has become a celebrity at the Rio Olympic Games. The 20-year-old swimmer won four medals, and became the first African-American woman to win a gold medal in an individual swimming event.
In an interview directly after her historic swim in which she tied with Canada’s Penny Oleksiak for gold, Manuel praises God for her victory.
However, as Terry Mattingly of GetReligion.org points out, the mainstream media seems to have edited out Manuel’s comments giving glory to God.
Mattingly posts two videos of post-swim interviews with Manuel--one which apparently includes the original interview and one in which Manuel’s comment of “All glory to God” is absent.
According to Baptist Press, Manuel and her family attend The Church Without Walls in Houston, Texas.
After the race, Manuel’s pastor tweeted, "It makes me proud to see Simone give God the glory in this monumental moment in her life."
Other news sources, notes Mattingly, fail to mention something that is obviously very important to the Olympic swimmer--her faith.
Mattingly questions why sources like the New York Times have left out any reference to Manuel’s faith when she herself has made a point to speak of it.
Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com
Publication date: August 16, 2016