London Roar’s Sydney Pickrem Leaves Empty Lane for 2nd Time in 2021 ISL Season

2021 INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING LEAGUE – SEASON 3, MATCH 9

For the second time this season, Sydney Pickrem of the London Roar has left an empty lane in an event at an International Swimming League meet.

Previously, in Match 3, she left an empty lane in the 200 IM. On Friday, her absence was in the 400 IM.

While this is common practice at traditional meets (she also no-showed prelims of the 400 IM and 200 breast at the Olympics, for example), in the points-are-all-that-matters, team scoring format of the ISL, these empty lanes are costly for teams. In this case, Pickrems absence earned her -4 points, plus gave her Jackpotted 1 point to Bailey Andison of the DC Trident. In total, that left DC with 33 points and London with 7 points.

Pickrem hasn’t swum a 400 IM this season, so there’s not much data to go on for expecting a time from her. Last season, her times ranged from 4:23.6 in the semifinals to 4:37.3 in her season opener.

Bailey Andison’s winning time is 4:27.23, which Pickrem is certainly capable of. 2nd place was Katie Shanahan of the London Roar in 4:32.74, and 3rd place was Zsu Jakabos of DC Trident in 4:34.91.

There is also the matter of the checkpoint scoring in the 400 meter race, though Pickrem’s strength is generally on the breaststroke place so she’s not a huge contender for big points there.

Depending on Pickrem’s form (and she generally swam well at the meet), she could have earned a further 6 or 7 points though, resulting in a net swing of somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 points for her team by her absence.

In both cases so far, it hasn’t impacted the team’s final standings. In Match 3, they had more than 200 points to go to catch Energy Standard, and this weekend they were 110.5 points behind the same team for the win.

But as we move into the Playoff rounds in Eindhoven in November and the Finals in January, this kind of point damage could cost her team a placement. It also won’t sit well with the league, given that the empty lane does harm the optics on television.

Coaches do have the ability to make lineup changes before each session of the meet (essentially, at each commercial break).

In her other races, Pickrem won the 200 IM (2:04.59), won the 100 IM (58.40), finished 3rd in the 200 free (1:56.25), and swam a 55.50 split on a 400 free relay. Those are, in general, good times for her. The 200 IM is over a second better than her regular-season best from season 2 (2:05.97).

A team spokesperson has not responded to multiple requests for comment as to discuss why Pickrem has no-showed two races this season, but she could be seen in the team box cheering loudly for her teammates after the miss on Friday.

Last week, London used Laura Lahtinen in the 400 IM. She swam 4:47.80 and missed the minimum time standard, though Shanahan winning that race (4:31.83) meant that the Jackpotted points, at least, stayed with the team. The -1 point for missing the minimum time standard is still a 3 point improvement on a no-show. Lahtinen has been under the minimum time standard this season – she went 4:45.6.

Pickrem is a co-captain of the London Roar along with Kyle Chalmers.

Final Match 9 Standings:

  1. Energy Standard – 568
  2. London Roar – 457.5
  3. Toronto Titans – 380.5
  4. DC Trident – 357

London’s 2nd-place finish in Match #9, ahead of the Toronto Titans, means that they’ll be the 4th seed headed into the Playoffs. The regular season concludes on Sunday, with the bottom four teams from the regular season racing in a Play-In match next week, with the top two advancing.

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Dudeman
2 years ago

It’s unfortunate that there always seems to be something with her, she’s a great swimmer when she wants to be.

Charlie
2 years ago

Whatever her reasoning ( ie. mental health, injury, relationships, family issues..) does not need to be made public at all.
She is beyond talented, very well versed and a hard working individual whose been on the international scene for some time now.
These athletes have personal lives and issues of their own and I believe we should all respect her privacy and leave assumptions out of the conversation, shame on people making inappropriate comments.

Devinswarm
Reply to  Charlie
2 years ago

I try to to believe that is the case but that is sports. Assumptions and drama are made of all athletes whether it’s asked for or not. Tough for Sydney but the article appears to be pretty factual.

Ol' Longhorn
2 years ago

Maybe she needs to train with the goat coach, Ray Looze. Cuz she’s becoming a goat in the bad sense for her team.

Just give the trophy to the condors already
2 years ago

Classic

Verram
2 years ago

I’m a big London roars fan but there seems to be a problem with their lineup this season… no decent male breastrokers, women’s sprint freestyle lacking depth etc etc … meanwhile energy standard seems to have the pick of all the in-form swimmers

Yoo
Reply to  Verram
2 years ago

Prigoda, Peaty and Campbell will all be back sometime this season.

Troyy
Reply to  Yoo
2 years ago

Peaty is only a maybe and Dean will be back too.

oxyswim
2 years ago

Having this happen regularly with your “captain” doesn’t seem ideal. Maybe she should step out of that role.

Daeleb Creseel
Reply to  oxyswim
2 years ago

She seems to be kyle’s co captain now

Miss M
Reply to  Daeleb Creseel
2 years ago

According to Australian Media Kyle and Emma McKeon are dating.

They must know something SwimSwam fans don’t!

SydFan
2 years ago

Mental block in the 400 IM? Anxiety prior to the race? She should just drop it from her repertoire. She doesn’t owe it to anyone to swim it, but the no-shows are hurting her team.

Troyy
Reply to  SydFan
2 years ago

This is the first time she no-showed in the 400 IM. Last time it was the 200 IM. She also hasn’t swum the 200 BR all season so there must be something going on so maybe Swimswam can get her on the podcast.

Last edited 2 years ago by Troyy
ClassicAmericans
Reply to  Troyy
2 years ago

I would much rather listen Duncan talk about that monster schedule of his than why Sydney doesn’t seem to be the most inspiring Team Captain for the Roar.

Verram
Reply to  ClassicAmericans
2 years ago

Wrong choice for team captain .. should have been Emma McKeon instead or Alia Atkinson

Kelsey
Reply to  Verram
2 years ago

I agree so many other options even Touissant or Campbell would be a better choice than Pickrem

Tyson
Reply to  Kelsey
2 years ago

Campbell would be a great choice had she done the regular season, originally last year I think she was slated to be captain but then Australia’s strict boarder control got in the way

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  SydFan
2 years ago

I say she passed the IQ test. I mean, seriously, who wants to swim a 400 IM?

Tracy Kosinski
2 years ago

Disappointing to say the least.

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Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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