By Anya Pelshaw on SwimSwam
2016 Olympic bronze medalist Leah Smith has announced her retirement from competitive swimming. Smith last competed at the 2024 US Olympic Trials.
“It’s been almost two years since I stepped on the blocks for the last time, and I’m filled with so much gratitude when I look back on my 23 years in swimming. It’s hard to put in to words what the friendships and memories I made during that time mean to me. I’ll cherish this incredible two+ decades for the rest of my life.
So many people had an impact on my journey, but my family is what I’m most grateful for. My parents both made so many sacrifices to give my siblings and I endless opportunities to achieve our dreams. I’m so thankful to my sister (who was my first ever role model) and to both of my brothers for being along for the ride. Thank you to my entire giant extended families for their truly endless support and love Thank you to my husband who has cheered me on for the last decade and has flown all over the world to watch me swim.
I have so much love and gratitude for my huge families of teammates and coaches from @jccsailfish , @usaswimming , @uvaswimdive, and @texaswsd . I feel SO lucky I got to be a part of such a special groups of people.”
Smith made her first Olympic team in 2016 after 2nd place finishes in the 400 and 800 freestyles behind Katie Ledecky at Olympic Trials. Smith went on to win bronze in the 400 free at the 2016 Rio Games with a 4:01.92. She also was 6th in the 800 free.
She was a member of the World Championships teams for the US in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2023. In 2017, she had a 1-2 finish with Ledecky in the 400 freestyle as Ledecky won gold in a 3:58.34 and Smith won silver in a 4:01.54.
Smith spent her collegiate career at Virginia, winning back to back NCAA titles in both the 500 and 1650 freestyles at the 2015 and 2016 NCAA Championships.
She raced at the 2020(1) US Olympic Trials and just missed making the US Olympic Team as she was 3rd in the 400 free, 4th in the 400 IM, and 8th in the 200 free. She last competed at the 2024 US Olympic Trials where she was 4th in the 400 IM, 7th in the 400 free, and 20th in the 200 free.
Since competing at 2024 Olympic Trials, Smith underwent surgery for a torn labrum in December 2024. The 30 year old got married in September 2025, marrying fellow swimmer Scot Robinson.
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