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Tokyo Countdown 8: 25 days, 25 amazing Olympic memories

Olympic rings are formed in the sky by planes of the Japanese Self Defense Forces during opening ceremonies of the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. (Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)

The Tokyo Games are almost here. We individually revisit an amazing Olympic memory, per diem, over the 25-day leadup.

This countdown began on Monday, June 28. Here are parts onetwo and three.

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NBC will have comprehensive coverage of the Tokyo Olympics' Opening Ceremony on Friday, July 23, beginning live at 6:55 a.m. ET. The ceremony will be re-aired at 7:30 p.m. ET for U.S. viewers who tune in for primetime, then replayed again overnight.

For more thrilling Olympic memories, stream the Great Moments channel on Peacock.

8 | Simone Manuel, U.S. Swim Trials in 2021

1st - 50m Freestyle Final

SEE MORE: Trials: Simone Manuel captures Olympic spot in 50m freestyle

At U.S. trials, two days after failing to make the final in the 100m freestyle – an event in which she's the reigning Olympic gold medalist – Simone Manuel got a last-chance opportunity to make her second Games by successfully advancing to the final of the 50m freestyle.

The next night, on the final day of trials, she made it happen, winning the 50m free final by a hundredth of a second in 24.29 to shed an incredible amount of weight off her shoulders. Manuel won silver in the event at the 2016 Rio Games.

 

SEE MORE: Swimming 101: Olympic History