“I never thought I’d win a gold,” Oleksiak celebrates sharing Olympic podium

From promising newcomer to Olympic champion in just six days—what a week it’s been for Penny Oleksiak.

The 16-year-old swimmer from Toronto claimed her fourth medal of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Thursday night, winning gold in the women’s 100m freestyle in a tie with 20-year-old American Simone Manuel.

RELATED: Oleksiak makes Canadian history with win

Rio 2016: Penny Oleksiak 100m freestyle

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 11: Simone Manuel (L) of the United States and Penny Oleksiak (R) of Canada tie for the gold medal in the Women’s 100m Freestyle Final on Day 6 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium on August 11, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

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

Rio swimming medals: 4x100m free | 4x200m free | Masse | Oleksiak

Not only did Oleksiak win Canada’s first gold of these Games, she made all sorts of history in the process.

She set a new Olympic record with a time of 52.70 seconds in the 100m freestyle, a record she’ll share with Manuel. But Oleksiak stands alone as the first Canadian athlete to win four medals at a single Summer Games.

Rio 2016: Penny Oleksiak 100m freestyle

United States’ Simone Manuel, left, and Canada’s Penny Oleksiak celebrate winning joint gold and setting a new olympic record in the women’s 100-meter freestyle during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Her gold is Canada’s first in the pool since Mark Tewksbury won the 100m backstroke final at Barcelona 1992, and the first by a Canadian woman since Anne Ottenbrite’s gold in the 200m breaststroke at Los Angeles 1984.

Fittingly, Manuel—with whom Oleksiak shared the gold medal—made history of her own, becoming the first African-American woman to win an Olympic swimming medal in an individual event.

“My first gold medal, at my first Olympics, is kind of a surprise to me,” said Manuel. “I’m so blessed and honoured to be on the medal stand. All my hard work has paid off and I am really happy about it.”

Canada's Penny Oleksiak, right, celebrates with a kiss from her father as her sister and mom look on following her gold-medal performance at the women's 100m freestyle finals during the 2016 Olympic Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Friday, Aug. 12, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Canada’s Penny Oleksiak, right, celebrates with a kiss from her father as her sister and mom look on following her gold-medal performance at the women’s 100m freestyle finals during the 2016 Olympic Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Friday, Aug. 12, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Canada will compete in the women’s 4×100 medley relay heats on Friday, giving Oleksiak the possibility of walking away from Rio with five medals altogether.

For reference’s sake, the most decorated Canadian Olympians of all time are Cindy Klassen and Clara Hughes, who each won six medals over the course of their careers.