Olivia Smoliga
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationality |
 USA | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | October 12, 1994 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Swimming | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Strokes | Backstroke, freestyle | |||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Olivia Smoliga (born October 12, 1994) is an American swimmer who specializes in backstroke and freestyle events. She currently holds the American record in the 50-meter backstroke (short course).
Personal life
Her parents Tomasz and Elżbieta emigrated from Poland in 1991.[1] After graduating from Glenbrook South High School in 2013, Smoliga accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Georgia, where she swims for coach Jack Bauerle's Georgia Bulldogs women's swimming team starting in the 2013–14 academic year.
Swimming career
At the 2012 United States Olympic Trials, the qualifying meet for the 2012 Olympics, Smoliga missed the Olympic team by finishing fourth in the 100-meter backstroke (1:00.46) and twenty-third in the 50-meter freestyle (25.66).[2][3] During the semifinals, Smoliga swam a personal best of 59.82 breaking the long course one minute barrier for the first time.[4]
At the Illinois State High School Championships in November of 2012 Smoliga broke the national high school records in both the 100 yard backstroke (51.43) and 50 yard freestyle (21.99).[5]
At the 2012 FINA Short Course World Championships in Istanbul, her first major international competition, Smoliga won a total of four medals: two gold, one silver, and one bronze. In the 100-meter backstroke final, Smoliga surprised the field by winning gold in a time of 56.64 swimming from lane 1. In the last 50-meters, Smoliga had the fastest split in the field with a time of 29.74.[6] Smoliga also earned gold in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay, silver in the 50-meter backstroke (in which she set the American record), and bronze in the 4×100-meter medley relay.
References
- ↑ "Glenview Patch". Patch Network. Retrieved 2012-12-13.
- ↑ "2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials (swimming) – Women's 100 metre backstroke (final).". Omega Timing. Retrieved 2012-12-13.
- ↑ "2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials (swimming) – Women's 50 metre freestyle (heats)". Omega Timing. Retrieved 2012-12-13.
- ↑ "2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials (swimming) – Women's 100 metre backstroke (semifinals)". Omega Timing. Retrieved 2012-12-13.
- ↑ "Glenview Patch". Patch Network. Retrieved 2012-12-13.
- ↑ "U.S. Wins More Swimming Gold Medals". New York Times. 13 December 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
External links
| ||||||