Kieran Smith

Kieran Smith is an American swimmer specializing in freestyle and individual medley events. He is the American record and US Open record holder in the 500 yard freestyle. He competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics, winning the bronze Olympic medal in the 400 meter freestyle, placing sixth in the 200 meter freestyle and fourth in the 4×200 meter freestyle relay. At the 2017 FINA World Junior Swimming Championships, he won the silver medal in the 200 meter individual medley. He competes collegiately for the Florida Gators.

For other people named Kieran Smith, see Kieran Smith (disambiguation).
Kieran Smith
Personal information
National team United States
Born (2000-05-20) May 20, 2000
Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA
Height1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)[1]
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle, individual medley
ClubTiticus Aquatic Club[2]
College teamUniversity of Florida[3]
CoachNestor Carbonell
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
2020 Tokyo400 m freestyle
World Junior Championships
2017 Indianapolis 200 m medley

Early life and education

Smith attended and graduated from Ridgefield High School in 2018.[4] Smith attends the University of Florida where he competes collegiately as part of the Florida Gators and set the American and NCAA records in the 500 yard freestyle with a time of 4:06.32 at the 2020 SEC Championships.[5]

Career

2016–2017

In 2016 and 2017 Smith was named Connecticut High School Coaches Association "Swimmer of the Year".[6]

2017 World Junior Championships

In 2017, he qualified for the US National Junior Team and earned a silver medal at the 2017 Junior World Championships in the 200 meter individual medley.[7]

2018–2021 Collegiate seasons

During Smith's freshman year he earned first team All-American honors. During his sophomore year, Smith set the 500 yard freestyle American, NCAA, SEC, and Florida records with a 4:06.32 at the 2020 Southeastern Conference Championships, which broke the record of 4:08.19 set by Townley Haas in 2019.[8][9] For the 2019–2020 season, his sophomore year, Smith received the "Male Swimmer of the Year" award from the Southeastern Conference.[10] During his junior year, Smith tied his American record in the 500 yard freestyle, swimming a 4:06.32 at the 2021 Southeastern Conference Championships.[11][12] His performances at the 2020 and 2021 Southeastern Conference Championships earned him the "Swimmer of the Meet" award at each Championships.[13]

2021

At the 2021 US Open Water Championships, Smith placed seventh in the 5 kilometer open water swim with a time of 1 hour and 13 seconds, and placed tenth in the 10 kilometer open water swim in 2 hours, 12 minutes, and 32 seconds.[14][15]

2020 US Olympic Trials

Smith qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games in the 400 meter freestyle and the 200 meter freestyle, winning both events at the 2020 USA Swimming Olympic Trials.[16][17][18] In the prelims, semifinals, final structure of the 2020 US Olympic Trials, Smith was the only male swimmer to meet the Olympic qualifying standard time in the 400 meter freestyle.[19] He posted new lifetime bests of 3:44.86 in the 400 meter freestyle and 1:45.29 in the 200 meter freestyle.[20][21][22] Smith was the first swimmer at the 2020 US Olympic Trials to qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics in more than one individual event.[23] In the 200 meter individual medley, Smith swam a personal best time of 1:57.23 and finished third overall, not making the US Olympic Team in the event as only the top two event finishers, Michael Andrew and Chase Kalisz, qualified for the team.[24] For the 100 meter freestyle, Smith swam a 49.40 and placed 20th overall in the prelims heats, not advancing to the semifinals of the event.[25]

2020 Summer Olympics
See also: Swimming at the 2020 Summer Olympics
2020 Summer Olympics
400 m freestyle 3:43.94

The 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan and held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic were Smith's first Olympic Games.[26] On July 25, 2021, Smith won a bronze medal in the 400 meter freestyle, finishing in 3:43.94.[27][28] Smith's individual bronze medal was his first Olympic medal in any, individual or relay, event and the first Olympic medal for the United States in the 400 meter freestyle since 2012.[6] In the 200 meter freestyle, Smith was the only American to make it to the final of the event on July 27, placing sixth with a time of 1:45.12.[6][29] The next day, July 28, Smith split the fastest lead-off leg of the 4×200 meter freestyle relay across all finals relay teams with a personal best time of 1:44.74, which was approximately one second faster than the next-fastest lead-off swimmer and helped the United States relay consisting of him, Drew Kibler, Zach Apple, and Townley Haas place fourth with a time of 7:02.43.[30] A crowd of about 70 people welcomed Smith back to his hometown of Ridgefield, Connecticut following the Olympic Games in a meet and greet format after his parents had a car pick him up from the airport so they could surprise him when he arrived at the house.[31] Smith's swims for 2021, up to the end of August, were fast enough for him to earn spots in the 200 meter freestyle, 400 meter freestyle, and 200 meter individual medley on the 2021–2022 U.S. National Team.[32][33]

2021–2022 Collegiate season beginnings

Day one of the 2021 Georgia Tech Fall Invitational, November 18, Smith won a total of four events in one night for the Florida Gators, which included the 500 yard freestyle, 200 yard individual medley, 4x50 yard freestyle relay, and 4x100 yard medley relay.[34][35] The next morning, November 19, Smith raced in three individual events, swimming a 3:49.43 in the 400 yard individual medley, 47.27 in the 100 yard butterfly, and a 46.95 in the 100 yard backstroke.[36] Later in the day, in the finals session, Smith placed second in the 400 yard individual medley with a time of 3:46.95, fifth in the 100 yard backstroke with a time of 46.80 seconds, and first in the 4x200 yard freestyle relay in 6:14.99 where he split a 1:32.66 for the lead-off leg of the relay.[37] Smith's swims earned him the Southeastern Conference, SEC, honor of "Men's Swimmer of the Week" for the sixth week of the collegiate season.[38]

2021 World Short Course Championships

Smith entered to compete in the 200 meter individual medley, 200 meter freestyle, 400 meter individual medley, and 400 meter freestyle at the 2021 World Short Course Championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in December, and the announcement of the United States team, including Smith, for the Championships was the number two item on the Swimming World honor of "The Week That Was" for the week of November 1, 2021.[39][40] Two weeks before the start of competition, Smith signed a professional sponsorship with Speedo.[41]

Personal best times

Long course meters (50 m pool)
As of November 19, 2021
Event Time Meet Location Date Age
100 m freestyle 49.11 2019 USA Swimming Championships Stanford, California July 31, 2019 19
200 m freestyle 1:44.74 r 2020 Summer Olympics Tokyo, Japan July 28, 2021 21
400 m freestyle 3:43.94 2020 Summer Olympics Tokyo, Japan July 25, 2021 21
800 m freestyle 7:59.27 2021 TYR Pro Swim Series - San Antonio San Antonio, Texas January 14, 2021 20
200 m individual medley 1:57.23 2020 US Olympic Trials Omaha, Nebraska June 18, 2021 21
400 m individual medley 4:15.17 2019 USA Swimming Championships Stanford, California August 2, 2019 19

Legend: r — relay 1st leg

National records

Short course yards (25 yd pool)
No. Event Time Meet Date Location Type Status Ref
1 500 yd freestyle 4:06.32 2020 Southeastern Conference Championships February 19, 2020 Auburn, Alabama NR, US Current [8][9]
2 500 yd freestyle (2) 4:06.32 = 2021 Southeastern Conference Championships February 24, 2021 Columbia, Missouri NR, US Current [11][12]
Legend: NR – American record; US – U.S. Open record;
Records not set in finals: h – heat; sf – semifinal; r – relay 1st leg; rh – relay heat 1st leg; b – B final; † – en route to final mark; tt – time trial

Awards and honors

References
  1. "KIERAN SMITH". teamusa.org. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  2. "Ridgefield Aquatic Club : Coaching Staff".
  3. "Kieran Smith - Men's Swimming & Diving".
  4. "Former Ridgefield High School Student On His Way To The Olympics". Ridgefield, CT Patch. 2021-06-14. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
  5. "Kieran Smith - Men's Swimming & Diving". Florida Gators. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  6. Vanoni, Maggie (July 26, 2021). "Ridgefield's Kieran Smith finishes 6th in 200-meter freestyle". Connecticut Post. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  7. FINA (August 24, 2017). "6th FINA World Junior Championships 2017: Men's 200m Individual Medley Final Results". Omega Timing. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  8. Neidigh, Lauren (February 19, 2020). "Kieran Smith Smashes NCAA, American Record With 4:06.3 500 Free". SwimSwam. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  9. Ross, Andy (February 19, 2020). "Kieran Smith Blasts New American Record With 4:06 500 at SECs". Swimming World. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  10. "2020 SEC Swimming & Diving Awards announced". Southeastern Conference. April 15, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  11. Ross, Andy (February 24, 2021). "Kieran Smith Ties 500 Freestyle American Record; Pulls Magahey to 4:06 at SEC Men's Swimming Championships". Swimming World. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  12. Sutherland, James (February 24, 2021). "Kieran Smith Ties 500 Free American Record in 4:06.32; Magahey Now #2 All-Time". SwimSwam. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  13. Dziak, Mark (February 28, 2021). "Kieran Smith Repeats As SEC Championship Swimmer Of The Meet In 2021". SwimSwam. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  14. USA Swimming "2021 USA Swimming Men's 5K National Championship". United Sports Service. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  15. USA Swimming "2021 USA Swimming Men's 10K National Championship". United Sports Service. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  16. "Ridgefield swimmer makes U.S. Olympic team". courant.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  17. USA Swimming (June 13, 2021). "2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Wave II: Men's 400m Freestyle Final Results". Omega Timing. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  18. USA Swimming (June 15, 2021). "2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Wave II: Men's 200m Freestyle Final Results". Omega Timing. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  19. "Swimming Trials: Kieran Smith wins 400m free, hits standard". NBC Olympics. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  20. "Kieran Smith Wins The 200 Free To Qualify For His Second Individual Race In Tokyo". Florida Gators. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
  21. "Kieran Smith Prefers 100 FR Over 800 FR For Day 4 Trials Prelims". SwimSwam. 2021-06-16. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
  22. "Outspoken King triumphs in 100m breaststroke". ESPN.com. 2021-06-16. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
  23. Hart, Torrey (June 15, 2021). "Kieran Smith becomes first 2-event Olympic qualifier at Swimming Trials". NBC Olympics. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  24. USA Swimming (June 18, 2021). "2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Wave II: Men's 200m Individual Medley Final Results". Omega Timing. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  25. USA Swimming (June 16, 2021). "2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Wave II: Men's 100m Freestyle Heats Results Summary". Omega Timing. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  26. "Ridgefield Swimmer Headed to Tokyo Olympics". NBC Connecticut. June 14, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  27. Rorabaugh, Dan (July 24, 2021) [Tokyo time → July 25, 2021 → Start Time 10:52 AM]. "Kieran Smith Wins Bronze in 400m Freestyle Final at Tokyo Olympics". Swimming-and-Diving. Gator Sports. Gainesville, Florida: University of Florida. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  28. "Men's 400m Freestyle – Results" (PDF). Swimming–Final Results. Olympic Channel Services S.L. July 24, 2021 [Tokyo time → July 25, 2021 → Start Time 10:52 AM]. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  29. Lessard, Rick (July 26, 2021). "Ridgefield native Kieran Smith takes 6th in 200m freestyle". WTIC-TV. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  30. Omega Timing; Atos (August 1, 2021). "Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games: Swimming Results Book". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  31. Vanoni, Maggie (August 13, 2021). "Olympic bronze medalist Kieran Smith welcomed back to Ridgefield: 'This is my home'". The Ridgefield Press. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  32. USA Swimming (September 10, 2021). "USA Swimming National Team Roster 2021-22". Swimming World. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  33. Lepesant, Anne (September 10, 2021). "USA Swimming Names 114 Athletes To The 2021-22 National Team Roster". SwimSwam. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  34. Gibbs, Robert (November 18, 2021). "Kieran Smith Goes 4-4; UGA Women Also Dominant, At Georgia Tech Invite Day 1". SwimSwam. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  35. Rieder, David (November 18, 2021). "Big Day for Kieran Smith (500 Free, 200 IM and Relays) at Georgia Tech Invite". Swimming World. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  36. Hart, Torrey (November 19, 2021). "2021 GT Invite Day 2 Prelims: Florida's Kieran Smith Rattles Off 3 More Swims". SwimSwam. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  37. Gibbs, Robert (November 19, 2021). "Georgia Tech Invite: Day 2 Finals Live Recap". SwimSwam. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  38. "Week 6: Swimming & Diving Athletes of the Week". Southeastern Conference. November 23, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  39. "2021 FINA Short Course World Championships Roster". USA Swimming. October 28, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  40. Rieder, David (November 1, 2021). "The Week That Was: Chalmers Takes Down 13-Year-Old World Record". Swimming World. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  41. Keith, Braden (December 2, 2021). "Kieran Smith Is The Latest Collegiate Swimmer To Join #TeamSpeedo". SwimSwam. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
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