By Frank Gogola | @FrankGogola

RIO DE JANEIRO – There will be no encore for Lexi Laird.

The former IUPUI swimmer failed to advance past the 100-meter backstroke heats Sunday at the Olympic Games. She spent 63 seconds in the pool in her first and what will be her only Olympic appearance. She plans to compete through the end of 2016.

“I’m glad I get to be here and experience all this,” Laird said. “It’s a really great way to tie out my career.”

Laird is one of 10 Seychellois who qualified for six Olympic events. Seychelles, an archipelago in the Indiana Ocean off of Africa’s east coast, has never won an Olympic medal.

Laird holds dual citizenship with the United States and Republic of Seychelles. Her mother, Angela Beier, was born in the Seychelles and married a U.S. Air Force airman she met in Germany.

Laird, who started swimming at 6, was dedicating her Olympic performance to her mother. Beier died when Laird was 4, and the Olympics were a grand stage to honor her mother.

Cheering on Laird was a large group of family members. Her father, stepmother, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, grandmother and grandfather were in attendance.

Laird’s time of 1:03.33 was 27th of 34 swimmers. The 16 best times moved on to the semifinals.

Continue reading IUPUI’s Lexi Laird on Rio