Last updated on .From the section Olympics

American Simone Manuel and Canada's Penny Oleksiak claimed joint gold in a remarkable finish to the women's 100m freestyle final at the 2016 Olympics.

Manuel, 20, became the first black female swimmer to win an Olympic gold medal, while Oleksiak, 16, won Canada's first gold of these Games.

Both women finished in 52.70 seconds, a new Olympic record.

Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom took bronze, with Australian sisters Bronte and Cate Campbell fourth and sixth respectively.

The last time two swimmers won joint golds in the Olympics was in 2000 when Americans Gary Hall and Anthony Ervin shared the men's 50m freestyle title.

At the time, Ervin was the first person of African-American heritage to win a gold medal.

'Win for inspirational African-Americans who came before me'

Manuel broke down in tears when she recognized her historic achievement.

"This medal is not just for me, it's for some of the African-Americans who have been before me and been inspirations. I hope I can be an inspiration for others," she said.

"The title 'black swimmer' makes it seem like I'm not supposed to be able to win a gold medal or break records.

Simone Manuel was shocked when she found out she had won a gold medal

"That's not true. I work just as hard as everybody else and I love the sport."

Manuel added that she wanted her success to help bring some hope to her fellow Americans, especially after recent police shootings of black men in her home country.

"It means a lot to me, especially what's going on in the world today and some of the issues with police brutality," she said.

"This win helps bring hope and change to some of the issues that are going on in the world."

Oleksiak, who has also won a silver medal in the 100m butterfly and two relay bronze medals in Rio, becomes the first competitor born after 1 January, 2000 to claim an Olympic gold medal in an individual event.

"This is amazing, to tie for a gold," Oleksiak said. "I never thought I'd win a gold. It means so much. She (Manuel) deserves it as much as me."

The Campbell sisters were expected to battle for the gold and at the halfway point world record holder Cate Campbell led with Bronte second.

However, the pair, who helped Australia win the 4x100m freestyle relay on Saturday, faded in the second half of the race to miss out on the medals entirely.

American swimmer Katie Ledecky, who has won three golds and a silver in Rio, wrote on Twitter: external-link "AHHH!!! My roomie Simone Manuel just won a gold medal! I'm shaking. So proud of you. #CHAMP"

Analysis - 'It baffles me'

Rebecca Adlington, double Olympic gold-medal winning swimmer, on BBC One: "I'm so shocked by that race. I don't think it's sunk in.

"Cate Campbell broke the world record two months ago - how can you go from that to sixth? It just baffles me."

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