Barely missing out on a berth in the 2016 Olympics’ 100-metre breaststroke semifinals (by 1.63 seconds) on Sunday, Kelowna’s Kierra Smith will attempt to qualify in her specialty — the 200 breast — on Wednesday.
An eighth-place finisher at the world championships a year ago, Smith goes into the fourth heat of the qualifying round at 9:02 a.m. (Pacific) needing to crack the top-16 in order to reach Wednesday’s (6:11 p.m.) semifinal. Success there would place her in Thursday’s final (6:17 p.m.).
Smith, a member of the Liquid Lightning Swim Club and the University of Minnesota Gophers, qualified for the 200-metre Olympic event with a time of 2:22:82 — the ninth fastest among the 30 swimmers in Wednesday's qualifying races.
Smith finished seventh in her heat and 19th overall in the 100-metre qualifying heat in a time of 1:07.41.
Ahead of her Olympic races, the 22-year-old Immaculata High School graduate and former NCAA champion took a few minutes out of her busy Olympic schedule to answer a few questions via email:
KelownaNow: What are your thoughts on being at your first Olympics? You mentioned in a recent interview that you wouldn't be nervous going into the Games, nor just "happy to be there" — like you said you felt at the World Championships — and that you are in Rio to win. But in the same breath, you were weary of your nerves hitting you once you arrived in the Athlete's Village – so have they? If so, have you shaken them off?
Smith: “I don't feel as much pressure in 100 metres as I do in the 200. Before the 200 I usually get some nerves. In the 100 I try to go as fast as I can and really enjoy the process. It's over so fast!”
KelownaNow: Obviously you've competed for Canada before, but how different is doing that in the Olympic context? Is there more pressure on you in this realm than compared to World Championships, or other international-level events where you swum for Canada?
Smith: “The pressure I put on myself feels the same as any other competition I've been to. I always want to do my best. There is just a lot of media and support that comes with the Olympics which is making it a ton of fun!”
KelownaNow: Who accompanied you to Rio? Family? Friends? Coaches?
Smith: “Emil [Dimitrov, her Kelowna coach], my mom, my dad, my uncle, some cousins, my Grade 2 teacher who happened to live in Minnesota for a few years when I was there and helped me my first few years away from home, her sister, and Amanda!!”
KelownaNow: What were your first impressions of Rio when you arrived, in terms of both the city of Rio, the country of Brazil, and of the Olympic facilities?
Smith: “Rio is awesome! Everyone's friendly and the beaches are beautiful. I'm excited to look around after the Games! The village is so beautiful.”
KelownaNow: There have been criticisms of the state of the athlete's living quarters, as well as of the water and other Olympic event venues — can you share your thoughts on the condition of everything from what you've seen so far?
Smith: “The housing is beautiful! The Canadian house is clean and was totally ready for us!”
KelownaNow: You'll be competing in the 100m and the 200m breaststroke — how do you stack up in each event? Are you a favourite? What will you have to do to beat out the world's best and earn a spot on the podium?
Smith: “The 200m is my better event and I'm not the favourite, but I'm going to try and beat the favourites!”
KelownaNow: There are a few Russians competing in your events — do you have any concerns about competing against them in terms of them possibly not competing clean? Or any athletes from anywhere for that matter that may be doping? Do you have confidence in the IOC's testing procedures to ensure the best swimmer does win?
Smith: “I believe in clean sport, but I can’t control what other people are doing and have prepared to race anyone.”
KelownaNow: Do you even think about any of the external influences that the media and other people are talking about, or are you able to just ignore it all and focus on swimming?
Smith: “Yes, I ignore them all.”
Earlier stories at KelownaNow:
Kelowna's Kierra Smith swims to a pair of Olympic-event berths
Kierra Smith Sets Sights On Rio Olympic Bid In April
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