After winning the first medal of her Olympic career, Sydney Pickrem was keeping it real.
In an interview on CBC television shortly after she won a bronze medal with the 4×100-metre medley relay team, the Canadian swimmer was asked about how she handled her leg of the race.
Pickrem’s response was the best quote of the Olympics.
“Oh, I was absolutely — shitting myself,” Pickrem said on live national television, as her teammates burst out laughing. “I’m not going to try to sugarcoat it.”
Sydney Pickrem with the quote of the night. “I was shitting myself”. #TeamCanada #Can #Olympics #OlympicGames pic.twitter.com/zicjI5Zhg5
— 𝐃𝐨𝐜 𝐍𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐡 (@DocNaismith) August 1, 2021
You have to love how Pickrem paused before cursing. That’s as real as real can be. No sugarcoating here.
A first-time Olympic medallist, Pickrem went on to speak about the quality of her teammates — each of whom added to their career medal hauls.
Here’s the full interview:
'We have each others backs everyday in and out of the pool'
The definition of team spirit from Olympic bronze medallists: @OleksiakPenny @Kjmasse @sydneypickrem @mags_swims26 #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/OnRoNG0z5l
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) August 1, 2021
After winning silver in the 100-metre and 200-metre backstroke races in Tokyo, Kylie Masse won the fourth Olympic medal of her career. Maggie Mac Neil, who swam the butterfly leg, now has a medal of every colour at these Olympic Games — gold, silver, and bronze. By winning bronze, Penny Oleksiak, who anchored the relay, became the most decorated Olympian of all-time with her seventh Olympic medal.
Back to Pickrem. We’re so accustomed to athletes giving cliché answers, that when someone like Pickrem says exactly what’s on her mind, it’s met with pure joy from viewers.
Sydney Pickrem, re: the pressure: "I was absolutely shitting myself."
NO POOPING IN THE POOL.
But congrats on the bronze!
— Alheli Picazo (@a_picazo) August 1, 2021
Sydney Pickrem, re: the pressure: "I was absolutely shitting myself."
NO POOPING IN THE POOL.
But congrats on the bronze!
— Alheli Picazo (@a_picazo) August 1, 2021
"I was absolutely shitting myself. I'm not going to try and sugarcoat it."
-Canada swimmer Sydney Pickrem, on the pressure of her relay leg, with some awesome honesty live on CBC TV.
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) August 1, 2021
Sydney Pickrem just said "I was absolutely shitting myself"
Queen shit dawg
— Bye-Lol THE BONK MAN (@Billy_chilly) August 1, 2021
“I was absolutely shitting myself,” says an honest Sidney Pickrem, about the prospect of racing the IM final…best quote of the entire #Olympics
— Rod Mickleburgh (@rodmickleburgh) August 1, 2021
Sydney Pickrem: “I was absolutely shitting myself.”#Olympics #Can #Swimming #Tokyo2020 #TeamCanada pic.twitter.com/F9jgHllKNW
— Jhoanna (@Jhoanna_RRT) August 1, 2021
“I was absolutely shitting myself”. My favourite Olympic quote of all time. Canadian Olympic women rock. @sydneypickrem
— David Carr (@davidcarr333) August 1, 2021
"I was absolutely shitting myself"
LOL Oh Canadians athletes on live tv
— The BryPie (@TheBryPie) August 1, 2021