Sydney Pickrem

Sydney Pickrem (born May 21, 1997) is a Canadian swimmer who competes primarily in the individual medleys. Pickrem won a bronze medal in the 400 m individual medley at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships. At the 2015 Pan American Games, she won a silver in the 400 m and bronze in the 200 m individual medleys. Pickrem won her first international medal competing at the 2013 FINA World Junior Swimming Championships in Dubai, winning the bronze in the 200 m individual medley.

Sydney Pickrem made her first senior national team in 2014, winning bronze medals in the 200 m and 400 m individual medley at Canadian Swimming Trials to earn spots at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2014 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships.

Pickrem, who specializes in the backstroke and individual medley, was selected to the 2012 Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships. In 2013, she represented Canada at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in January where she won four medals: gold in the 200 m backstroke and 200 m IM, and silver in the 400 m IM and 200 m breaststroke. At the 4th FINA World Junior Swimming Championships in Dubai, Pickrem won a bronze in the 200 m IM.

In 2016, she was officially named to Canada's Olympic team for the 2016 Summer Olympics where she performed admirably, finishing sixth as a 19 year old. Pickrem competed at the 2017 World Championships where she participated in both the 200 and 400 individual medleys. She qualified for the final with the third fastest time in the 200 m, putting her in the running for a medal. In the final Pickrem met with disappointment when she suddenly pulled out of the pool after the 50 m butterfly after apparently swallowing too much water. She bounced back and captured a bronze medal in the 400 m individual medley, setting a personal best in the process. After the race an emotional Pickrem said "As much as I felt like I disappointed Canada in my 200 IM, to come back and be able to get on the podium, it's just a relief and really exciting. I'm proud to be Canadian and do that for Canada."

Pickrem has dual nationality having been born in the United States, her parents are both Canadians from Halifax, Nova Scotia. She comes from a sporting background as her father Darren Pickrem, played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. With roots in Nova Scotia, Pickrem also lists Clearwater, Florida as her hometown and Prince Edward Island as her favourite place to visit.

Long course (50 m pool)