The Canadian women's water polo team missed its last chance to qualify for the Paris Olympics. Then, suddenly, it didn't happen.

An 18-12 loss to Italy in the seventh-place classification match at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha on Friday was supposed to be the last straw for Team Canada, which was seeking its second straight Olympic appearance and fourth overall.

But hours later, Water Polo Canada announced its women's team had “finally” qualified for Paris as South Africa lost its spot. The national sports organization added there were more details to come.

“It was like a roller coaster,” said team captain Emma Wright. “Ups and downs for sure, but I think when everything settles down, it's obviously huge that we've got a spot in the Olympics.”

Canada finished the Doha tournament with an eighth place result. It placed seventh at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

In Friday's match, Roberta Bianconi fired Italy to victory with five goals, while teammates Sofia Giustini and Silvia Avegno each added four goals.

Verica Bakoc is Canada's top scorer with four goals. Marilia Mimides and Hayley McKelvey each scored two goals for Canada.

“It's really hard to say what emotional state we're in right now because I think we went through too much today,” head coach David Paradelo said. “But of course it's great that we can go to the Olympics and prove ourselves better than we did in this tournament.

“We were better, and the girls with all their hard work deserved this. And we will make sure that we make this country and this sport proud.”

Pickrem swam to bronze

Meanwhile in swimming, Sydney Pickrem from Halifax won bronze in the women's 200 meter breaststroke.

Pickrem touched the wall in two minutes 22.94, relying on his stamina to reach the podium after getting closer to fourth throughout the first half of the event.

Test Schouten of the Netherlands won gold in 2:19.81, while American Katie Douglass took silver with her time of 2:20.91.

WATCH | Pickrem earned a bronze medal:

Pickrem, 26, collected her sixth career medal at worlds — five of them bronze. She captured her only previous silver in Doha in the 200 individual medley, and she also swam the breaststroke as Canada won bronze in the women's 4×100 medley relay at the Tokyo Olympics.

His two medals in Doha matched the two individual medals he won at the 2019 worlds in Gwangju, South Korea. Friday's race marked Pickrem's fastest time since that event.

“Every [medal] very special in itself. It's been a long time since I actually competed in the international 200 breast and I started getting back into it this year. Came back at 02.22, it's been a long time since I've been there,” said Pickrem.

He withdrew from last year's world championships in Fukuoka, Japan, for mental health reasons.

In a poolside interview after the race, Pickrem said he would donate the stuffed animal he received for his podium performance to his nephew who would be born within 24 hours.

Canada has 10 medals in Doha (two gold, three silver, five bronze) heading into the final weekend of competition. Canadian swimmers have contributed six of them (one gold, one silver, four bronze).

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