SEC Freshman Swimmer of the Year Sydney Pickrem of Texas A&M earned a spot in the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero with a victory in the 400-meter IM on Wednesday at the 2016 Canadian Olympic Trials.
Pickrem, from Dunedin, Fla., touched first in a FINA “A” cut time of 4:38.34, just ahead of runner-up Emily Overholt in 4:38.50. The freshman is coming off a spectacular first season at Texas A&M where she won the SEC title in the 400 IM and earned first-team All-America honors in the 400 IM and 200 IM and with the Aggies’ 800 free relay at the 2016 NCAA Championships.
Pickrem joins Texas A&M teammate Béryl Gastaldello as 2016 Olympians. Earlier on Wednesday, Gastaldello was selected as a member of France’s Olympic squad.
