Pickrem Becomes First Canadian Woman To Win Three Individual LC World Medals

2019 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Sydney Pickrem won her third career individual medal at a Long Course World Championship on day six in Gwangju, setting a new all-time record for Canadian women.

Pickrem picked up her third bronze in the women’s 200 breaststoke in a time of 2:22.90, adding to the ones she won in the 200 IM early in the competition and in the 400 IM two years ago in Budapest.

Sydney Pickrem, 200 breast final. Courtesy Joseph Kleindl

This was the first time the Texas A&M grad has competed in an event outside of the medleys at the World Championships.

“I wanted to try as much as I could to get on the podium,” said Pickrem. “It’s not the time that I wanted but it was better than semis so I’m just moving forward.

“There’s a lot of fast swimming here and that motivates you whether it’s your (main) event or not.”

A total of five Canadian have won two individual LC World medals. Nancy GarapickCheryl GibsonAnne OttenbriteBrittany Reimer, and Kylie Masse.

Masse, who defended her World title in the 100 back earlier in the meet, will have a chance to tie Pickrem on day seven as she’ll compete in the 200 back.

Pickrem’s podium finish marks Canada’s sixth medal of the competition, tying the country’s best-ever showing at a World Championships. In 1978 they won one gold, one silver and four bronzes.

The 22-year-old will compete in the 400 IM on the final day of competition.

Quotes courtesy of Swimming Canada.

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Mswim
4 years ago

Pickrem could upset Hosszu in the 400 IM. It’s not completely out of the question.

William Charles Alexander
Reply to  Mswim
4 years ago

Lets not go completely crazy…. hosszu is easily ahead of the field by over 3 seconds. Unless pickrem pulls off a Reagan Smith, she’s not beating Katinka anytime soon.

Fluidg
Reply to  William Charles Alexander
4 years ago

Regan Smith was swam 2:06.4 in heavy training in May. That time is just outside the all-time top ten performers–and she did it tired. Her 2:03 was no fluke.

Mswim
Reply to  William Charles Alexander
4 years ago

Hosszu is also 31 years old and had a VERY full week of racing. Her 1:59 200 free and 2:10 200 back showed she’s not completely invincible. She would probably have just scratched the races if she really didn’t want to swim them. Just sayin…

Aquaman
4 years ago

Gig’em

Bobc
4 years ago

I’m pretty sure that Joanne Malar got there in 1999

John
Reply to  Bobc
4 years ago

No LCM WC hardware. Plenty SCM though.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanne_Malar?wprov=sfti1

Matterson
Reply to  Bobc
4 years ago

Worlds were 1998 and Malar was unable to medal sadly. She did finish 4th in the 400 IM In 1994 though…

marley09
Reply to  Matterson
4 years ago

OMG I just looked up 1994 results from worlds in Rome. Chinese women swept all three relays and won 12 gold medals. Everyone else won 4 medals. How did/do they sleep?

Texas Tap Water
Reply to  marley09
4 years ago

Steroid, HGH

Matterson
Reply to  marley09
4 years ago

Following the 94 worlds the Chinese team continued on to the Asian games in Japan where they had 8 positive tests for PEDs. It was a very famous time filled with all sorts of scandal.

marley09
Reply to  Matterson
4 years ago

Then, I’m declaring Joanne Malar the bronze medalist from
Rome ’94. Same for Atlanta ’96 with the Michelle Smith saga.

Laps
Reply to  Matterson
4 years ago

Followed by Yuan Yuan being caught by customs when arriving for 1998 worlds in Perth with enough HGH to supply the entire women’s team for the entire championships…

Samesame
Reply to  marley09
4 years ago

I think Samantha Riley from Australia was the only individual winner not from China ( she’s a breastroker – assume drugs didn’t help China on breastroke ) .

Matterson
Reply to  Samesame
4 years ago

Janet Evens joining Samantha Riley as the only 2 females with victories in 94.

Aquajosh
4 years ago

I’m really surprised Joanne Malar or Marianne Limpert hadn’t already done that.

William Charles Alexander
4 years ago

Great meet for Pickrem, esp considering all the psychological battles with anxiety she’s had to endure, in the aftermath of her harrowing incident in the 200im last worlds. Proving to not only be a perennial podium finisher in the IM events, but also a world class breastroker! Oh, and how can u miss her vivacious personality and cheeky tongue poking 😛

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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