Olympic medalist Rebecca Smith: The University of Calgary women’s swimming team’s propelling force
CALGARY, Alberta — Rebecca Smith swam the third leg for the Canadian Olympic women’s swimming team in the 4×100 meters freestyle in Tokyo 2020. They took the silver and finished just behind the Australian team. Smith covered the 100 meters in 53.63 seconds and ended celebrating at the podium along with Kayla Sanchez, Margaret MacNeil and Penny Oleksiak.
Her harvest did not stop after the Olympics though. At the beginning of November, Smith leveraged the University of Calgary women’s swimming team to claim the Colleges Cup Pacific: she secured wins in all four of her events (100 and 200-meter freestyle, 100 individual medley and 100 butterfly).
It was her first appearance with the Dinos after moving from Toronto to Calgary.
“It was such a smooth transition moving back to Alberta from Toronto because Alberta is home for me,” the native from Red Deer, Alberta, commented to BVM Sports. “And the team was so welcoming and kind that it feels like home. I think I am doing so well because I am happy to be closer to my family after being away from them for five years and also because I am having fun. The team makes the practices so enjoyable.”
Smith, who is pursuing a career in nursing, was saving the best for the Canada West Swimming Championship which took place in Edmonton from Nov. 26 to Nov. 28.
Not only did Smith win her four individual events, plus relays (medley and freestyle), she was also able to register a personal best in the 50 butterfly (25.79) and was even faster in the 100 meter freestyle than in Tokyo (53.10). Her outstanding contribution led the Dinos women’s swimming team to win the conference championship banner and trophy for the first time since the 2008-09 season.
She was named Canada West Athlete of the Year the day after.
Before the Olympics, she demonstrated what she was capable of. She collected 11 medals in top-level competitions (World Championships, World Junior Swimming Championships, Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific Championships.)
“The Dinos swimming team had a very good showing at the Canada West Swimming Championships. Both the men’s and women’s teams,” Dinos women’s swimming team head coach Mike Blondal said to BVM Sports. “The women’s team has a strong leadership group and the addition of a few key rookies, as well as Rebecca Smith, seems to have produced a winning team.”
Blondal went on to highlight Smith’s time management and diligence in whatever she pursues.
“Rebecca brings a strong work ethic to the pool while doing a nursing degree,” Blondal said. “This seems to have brought a higher level of training for everyone every day. Rebecca and her teammates seem to have a strong bond and are caring and considerate for each other’s performances and needs.”
Smith is off to World Short Course Champs in Abu Dhabi (UAE) in a few weeks. She will compete from Dec. 16 to Dec. 21 and will swim the 200 and 100-meter freestyle as well as relays.
“This (the CW women’s title and overall Dinos performance) win shows us what is possible and we now have to focus on the opportunities it has presented to both the men’s and women’s teams,” the 2021 CW Coach of the Year added. “U Sports National Championships are in late February at the University of Laval and the Canadian Trials for national team selections are in early April. We will be preparing to have a strong impact on those competitions.”
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