Swimmer from Carthage qualifies for Olympic trials but eliminated from chance to compete in Paris

Brayden Cole, a Carthage native and recent graduate of the University of Indianapolis (UIndy), qualified for the Olympic swimming trials earlier this month.

He, was, however, eliminated from the chance to go to Paris in a competition on Saturday morning.

Cole told NewsTalk KZRG:

“I was seeded 51st out of 85 athletes but these 85 athletes are the 85 best 100 [meter] breast strokers in the country. It is truly a blessing to be considered even in the same conversation as some of these guys.

“It was so surreal to see Olympic champions to my left and world champions to my right,” Cole said.

The trials were nationally televised on the Peacock network.

Cole says credits his parents and coaches for helping motivate him over the years to making it to the Olympic trials.

Cole graduated from Carthage High School in 2020.