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LTC Stephen F.
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Edited >1 y ago
Thank you my friend Maj Marty Hogan for making us aware that August 2 is the anniversary of the birth of American competition swimmer specializing in sprint freestyle
Simone Ashley Manuel.
Happy 22nd birthday Simone Ashley Manuel with many happy returns.

Background from forbes.com/sites/alanaglass/2018/07/30/simone-manuel-rewrites-athlete-activism-with-tyr-sport-inclusion-rider/#5de3f1fd48b2
"Earlier this year, Simone Manuel, 2018 Honda Cup winner (awarded to the nation’s top collegiate women’s athlete), confirmed that she would forgo her final season of NCAA eligibility and turn pro. It came as no surprise that the dominant 14-time NCAA champion would pursue opportunities beyond Stanford University. Rather, after her historic performance at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janerio, many were in disbelief that four-time Olympic medalist did not seek endorsement deals sooner.

Last week, at the Phillips 66 National Championship, the nine-time World Championship medalist Manuel announced that she signed with her first professional sponsor, swimwear brand, TYR Sport. TYR’s impressive list of athlete partners includes Katie Ledecky, Lia Neal and Dana Vollmer; however, Manuel’s TYR contract is unprecedented because it contains an inclusion rider.

According to TYR, the partnership is said to be the first time that an inclusion rider has been built into an athlete sponsorship agreement.
“Through this stipulation Simone ensures that her partners extend meaningful opportunities to traditionally underrepresented groups and that diversity be reflected in the creative efforts she pursues with the brand,” said TYR in its press release. “TYR believes in the importance of diversity in the workplace and is proud to support Simone in her efforts to champion inclusion as both a best practice in business and a central tenet of her identity as a professional athlete.”

For decades, athletes have used their public platforms to voice concerns about societal issues. Generally speaking, the “athlete activist” is often met with mixed reviews. Look no further than the NFL’s national anthem policy versus the WNBA’s Take A Seat, Take A Stand initiative.

Manuel’s barrier-breaking athletic achievements alone inspire the disenfranchised and dispel the myth that people of color do not swim. The sprinter set a U.S. Open record and swept the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle events at the national championships. However, with the addition of an inclusion rider, she is going one step further to ensure that swimmers behind her have similar opportunities to succeed in the sport.

“My identity as a citizen, a Black Woman, an athlete and as a creative who wants to use her platform to effect positive change is multi-faceted, and a partnership with TYR represents all of those elements,” stated Simone in a released statement. “Both TYR and I share a passion for winning and a common vision for growing the sport of swimming by connecting with people and encouraging them to dream beyond traditional assumptions.”

Gold Medalist Simone Manuel Visits The NYSE | CNBC
Olympic gold medalist Simone Manuel discusses her life after the Olympics, sponsorships and her diet and workout regimen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiPSOUO3J4w

FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Orlando Illi Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" Price CPT Jack Durish Capt Tom Brown CMSgt (Join to see) MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SGT (Join to see) Sgt Albert Castro SSG David Andrews Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Charles H. Hawes SGT Mark Halmrast SPC Margaret Higgins PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
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Lt Col Charlie Brown
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Hopefully she has a number of games ahead of her
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SPC Douglas Bolton
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Maj Marty Hogan Wow! She is only 22 years old. She has many more years to achieve new heights.
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