Martinsburg Woman's Granddaughter to Participate in 2021 Summer Olympics

Kay Weyant of Martinsburg just returned from a trip to Nebraska, where she watched her granddaughter qualify for the U.S. Olympic Swim Team.

Emma Weyant, 19, will swim in the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. Emma placed first for the 400 IM in the Olympic trials.

Emma's father, Jim Weyant, grew up in the Cove. He and his family live in Sarasota, Florida, where Emma swam for the Sarasota Sharks.

According to Kay, Emma has been swimming since she was at least 5 years old, and she has won many medals for swimming.

The whole family – besides two younger members – went to watch Emma qualify. Emma's sister, Gracie, also made it through the first wave of trials.

Emma currently holds the fastest 400 IM time in the world for the year, according to her grandmother. She beat out three previous gold-medal Olympians during the final stage of trials.

Emma will go to Hawaii to train for a few weeks. The Olympics will be held from July 23 through Aug. 8.

In the fall, Emma will attend University of Virginia, where she will continue to swim.

"We're already planning to go see her," said Kay. "It's only 3 or 4 hours away."

Though Emma will have to travel to Tokyo alone due to remaining restrictions, the family will be watching and cheering her on from home.