The incredible moment when 2 swimmers tied for gold

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Swimming is often a sport decided by fractions of a second.

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Though at times there are blowouts, racers frequently touch within tenths of a second of each other.

That's what made Simone Manuel and Penny Oleksiak's tie for gold in the 100-meter freestyle all the more unusual and wild. They both finished with a time of 52.70, an Olympic record.

Getty's Richard Heathcote caught the moment in a stunning aerial picture.

swimming tie rio

Richard Heathcote/Getty

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There have only been two other gold-medal ties in Olympic history. Oddly, one came in 1984 in the same event, the 100m freestyle, between Americans Carrie Steinseifer and Nancy Hogshead, who both finished with times of 55.92. Anthony Ervin and Gary Hall Jr., both Americans, also tied in the 2000 Olympics, swimming 21.98 in the 50-meter freestyle.

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