WVU swimming and diving assistant coach Sydney Pickrem took the pool for her first of two individual events at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Wednesday.
Pickrem competed Wednesday in the women’s 200 meter breaststroke representing Canada, advancing past the initial heats to the semifinal stage. In a heartbreaking finish, however, Pickrem fell just under a half-second short of the top eight finish needed to advance to the finals on Thursday.
Pickrem finished ninth overall in the semifinals, finishing her race in 2 minutes, 24.03 seconds. She was edged out of the finals by Satomi Suzuki of Japan, who completed the event in 2 minutes, 23.54 seconds.The close finish dashes her hopes of repeating as an Olympic finalist in the event, as she took sixth-place overall in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Pickrem is still set to compete in the women’s 200 meter individual medley, an event in which she captured the silver medal in the 2024 World Aquatics Championship this year. Out of the 34 athletes set to compete, Pickrem is has the fifth-best entry time overall. Qualifying heats for the event are set for 5 a.m. EST on Friday, August 2nd with the semifinals scheduled later that day at 3 p.m. EST. Finals will take place at 3 p.m. EST on Saturday, August 3rd.