TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Sarasota native and University of Florida Gator, Emma Weyant, has punched her ticket to Paris.
“Very emotional and I just felt so proud of her. Just to see her when they do the announcements and they have her on the big screen and when they walk out––I just felt so much pride,” Emma’s mother, Kristi Weyant, said. “She’s my oldest of four daughters. She’s still my baby. Seeing her up there when she touched the wall, I think I did stop breathing and I 100% started crying.”
Her younger sister Gracie also competed at the U.S. Swim Trials. While Gracie didn’t qualify for the 2024 Olympics, she’ll travel with their mom to watch Emma compete in France.
The sisterly bond between Emma and Gracie goes beyond swimming; they’ve been each other’s biggest cheerleaders their whole lives.
“Oh gosh, it really does make me tear up to see the bond. The pride. Gracie is so proud of Emma,” their mother said.
Aside from swimming on the same team with the Sarasota Sharks, the two will also be swimming for the same college team.
Emma swam for the University of Virginia her freshman year before transferring to UF in her sophomore year. Gracie committed to swimming at Florida as well.
“I’m really lucky to get to swim at least one more year with [Gracie] and I know that’s going to be really special for the both of us and my family,” Emma told three-time Olympic Gold medalist Brooke Bennett ahead of trials.
