Michael Brinegar
DOHA, Qatar — Michael Brinegar may or may not be headed to his second Olympic Games. His status at the moment is in limbo.
The Columbus native finished 19th early Sunday morning in the Open Water 10K at the 2024 Aquatics World Championships. Only the top 15 or 16 earned automatic qualifications to this summer’s Paris Olympics.
However, the SwimSwam and Swimming World Magazine websites, along with a World Aquatics official, have indicated the Brinegar earned the final qualifying spot. Brinegar’s father Jamie said he was told the official word might not come for a day or two.
Michael Brinegar is set to compete in the 4×1,250-meter mixed relay at 2:30 a.m. Thursday.
A 2021 Tokyo Olympics qualifier in the 1,500- and 800-meter pool events, Brinegar will swim those two again in this summer’s Olympic Trials in Indianapolis.
