Emily Overholt competes in women's 400m freestyle.

Emily Overholt

Team Canada Medal Count

Gold medal icon 0
Silver medal icon 0
Bronze medal icon 1

Biography

Emily Overholt was the breakout star of the Canadian swimming team in 2015. She was a triple medallist at the Pan Am Games in Toronto, highlighted by a gold medal from lane 8 in the 400m freestyle, setting a Pan Am record. That came one day after she appeared to win gold in the 400m IM but was disqualified for an illegal turn. She then made her FINA World Championship debut, surprising herself with a bronze in the 400m IM. In her Olympic debut at Rio 2016, Overholt was unexpectedly called into action to swim the heats of the 4x200m freestyle relay, which went on to win the bronze medal. She also made it to the final of the 400m IM, finishing fifth. Overholt has wanted to represent Canada since watching Michael Phelps win his unprecedented eight Olympic gold medals at Beijing 2008. In 2013 she competed at the FINA World Junior Championships where she captured bronze in the 400m IM. That proved to be her strongest individual event in 2014 when she made her senior national team debut at age 16. At both the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific Championships she made the final in the 400m IM, finishing fifth and sixth, respectively. She also anchored the 4x200m freestyle relay squad to Commonwealth silver and Pan Pac bronze, despite being the youngest member of the team.

Getting to know…

Family: Parents Carman and Deborah Overholt… Both parents are lawyers… Older brother Andrew… Younger brother Markus… Getting into the Sport: Started swimming at age 8… Followed her friends with whom she played soccer and softball… Outside Interests: Graduated Collingwood High School in June 2015… Deferred acceptance to UBC science studies until September 2016… Enjoys baking and watching Netflix… Favourite movie: Pitch Perfect… Favourite TV show: Grey’s Anatomy… Had to learn to cook when she moved out on her own to be closer to the pool… Odds and Ends: Nickname Em… Collects towels from anyplace she travels… Favourite motto: Winners are dreamers that never quit…

Olympic Highlights

Games Sport Event Finish
2016 RioSwimming400m IM5
2016 RioSwimming 400m Freestyle 25
2016 RioSwimmingFreestyle Relay 4x200m - WomenBronze

Notable International Results

Olympic Games: 2016 - 5th (400m IM), 25th (400m freestyle), BRONZE (4 x 200m freestyle relay)

FINA World Championships: 2015 - BRONZE (400m IM), 22nd (400m freestyle), 21st (200m freestyle), 11th (4x200m free relay)

Pan American Games: 2015 - GOLD (400m freestyle), SILVER (200m freestyle), BRONZE (4x200m free relay), DQ (400m IM)

Commonwealth Games: 2014 – SILVER (4x200m free relay), 5th (400m IM), 15th (200m butterfly)

FINA World Junior Championships: 2013 – BRONZE (400m IM), 4th (4x200m free relay), 4th (4x100m free relay), 8th (4x100m medley relay), 10th (200m butterfly), 14th (200m IM)

Pan Pacific Championships: 2014 – 19th (200m IM), 6th (400m IM), BRONZE (4x200m free relay)