American · Lakewood, USA · Born 9 February 2002American swimmer who set multiple world records in backstroke events and won Olympic and World Championship medals in individual and relay events
Born February 9, 2002, in Lakeville, Minnesota, this exceptional swimmer began competing at an early age and quickly distinguished herself in backstroke events. She trained under the guidance of coach Bob Bowman, who previously coached Michael Phelps, at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club after relocating from Minnesota to pursue elite-level training opportunities. Smith's meteoric rise began as a teenager when she started breaking age group records and establishing herself as a dominant force in backstroke swimming. Her breakthrough came at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, where she set world records in both the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke events. These performances announced her arrival as the world's premier backstroker and established her as a key figure in American swimming. Her technical prowess is characterized by exceptional underwater dolphin kick work and powerful stroke mechanics that allow her to maintain speed throughout races. The world records she established demonstrated her ability to perform at the highest level under pressure, with her 200-meter backstroke record being particularly notable for the margin by which she broke the previous mark. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she won three medals, including silver in the 200-meter backstroke and bronze in the 100-meter backstroke, along with a silver medal as part of the American medley relay team. These achievements solidified her status among the world's elite swimmers. Smith's impact on backstroke swimming extends beyond her individual accomplishments. Her technique and training methods have influenced coaching approaches, and her performances have elevated the standard for backstroke events globally. She represents the evolution of backstroke swimming, combining traditional stroke mechanics with innovative underwater techniques. Her consistency at the international level and ability to perform in major competitions have established her as one of the defining swimmers of her generation and a cornerstone of American swimming's continued excellence in backstroke events.
World record holder in backstroke events
How They Played
Technical backstroker with exceptional underwater dolphin kick
Lasting Impact
Dominant backstroke swimmer who set multiple world records as a teenager
Career Honours
- Olympic Gold Medal 4x100m Medley Relay Tokyo 2020
- Olympic Silver Medal 100m Backstroke Tokyo 2020
- Olympic Silver Medal 200m Backstroke Tokyo 2020
- Olympic Bronze Medal 4x100m Freestyle Relay Tokyo 2020
- Olympic Gold Medal 4x100m Medley Relay Paris 2024
- Olympic Gold Medal 100m Backstroke Paris 2024
- Olympic Gold Medal 200m Backstroke Paris 2024
- World Championship Gold 100m Backstroke Gwangju 2019
- World Championship Gold 200m Backstroke Gwangju 2019
- World Championship Gold 4x100m Medley Relay Gwangju 2019
- World Championship Gold 200m Backstroke Fukuoka 2023
- World Championship Gold 4x100m Medley Relay Fukuoka 2023
- World Record 200m Backstroke 2019 (2:03.35)
- World Record 100m Backstroke 2019 (57.57s)
- American Swimmer of the Year Award 2019
American Athletes