Leanne Smith (swimmer)

Last updated

Leanne Smith
Personal information
Born (1988-05-08) May 8, 1988 (age 37)
Beverly, Massachusetts, U.S.
Home town Salem, Massachusetts, U.S.
Sport
Sport Para swimming
Disability Dystonia
Disability class S3, SM3
Medal record
Women's para swimming
Representing the Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Event1st2nd3rd
Paralympic Games 230
World Championships 1333
Total1563
Paralympic Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2024 Paris 50 m freestyle S4
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2024 Paris 100 m freestyle S3
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2020 Tokyo 100 m freestyle S3
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg2024 Paris Mixed 4×50 m freestyle relay 20pts
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg2024 Paris Mixed 4×50 m medley relay 20pts
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2019 London 50 m breaststroke S3
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2019 London 100 m freestyle S3
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2019 London 150 m ind. medley SM4
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2022 Madeira 50 m breaststroke SB3
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2022 Madeira 50 m backstroke S3
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2022 Madeira 50 m freestyle S3
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2022 Madeira 100 m freestyle S3
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2022 Madeira 200 m freestyle S3
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2022 Madeira 150 m ind. medley SM4
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2022 Madeira Mixed 4×50 m medley 20pts
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2025 Singapore 50 m freestyle S3
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2025 Singapore 100 m freestyle S3
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2025 Singapore 200 m freestyle S3
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg2019 London 50 m backstroke S3
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg2025 Singapore 150 m ind. medley SM3
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg2025 Singapore 50 m backstroke S3
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2023 Manchester 200 m freestyle S3
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg2025 Singapore Mixed 4×50 m freestyle relay 20pts
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg2025 Singapore Mixed 4×50 m medley relay 20pts

Leanne Smith (born May 8, 1988) is an American para swimmer who represented the United States at the 2020 and 2024 Summer Paralympics. She is a thirteen-time World Champion. [1]

Contents

Career

Smith represented the United States in the women's 100 metre freestyle S3 event and won a silver medal at the 2020 Summer Paralympics. [2]

On April 14, 2022, Smith was named to the roster to represent the United States at the 2022 World Para Swimming Championships. [3] At the World Championships, she won a gold medal in all seven events she participated in, to lead all swimmers in gold medals. Her seven gold medals were the most in a single championships by an American since Jessica Long also won seven gold medals in 2010. [4]

Following the 2022 World Para Championships, she fell ill with a respiratory infection. As a result, she spent several weeks in the hospital with a partially collapsed lung, including time in the intensive care unit. During this time she had to relearn how to eat, speak, swallow and swim. [5] After extensive rehab on April 29, 2023, Smith was named to the roster to represent the United States at the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships. During the event she won a bronze medal in the 200 metre freestyle S3 event. [6]

She competed at the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships and tied Katie Kubiak as team USA's most decorated swimmer at the event with seven medals. She won three gold medals, two silver medals and two bronze medals. [7]

Personal life

In 2012 Smith was diagnosed with dystonia, a progressive disease which affects all four of her limbs, her vocal cords and her trunk. She was also diagnosed with lupus. [8] [9]

References

  1. ↑ "Leanne Smith". TeamUSA.org . Archived from the original on July 29, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Swimming - Leanne Smith". Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on August 30, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  3. ↑ Gowdy, Kristen (April 14, 2022). "U.S. Paralympics Swimming Nominates 25 athletes to World Championship Roster". teamusa.org. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Leanne Smith leads U.S. with seven golds at world para swimming championships". NBC Sports . June 18, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  5. ↑ Costantini, Lisa (January 16, 2024). "Paralympic Swimmer Leanne Smith On Her Comeback Story". teamusa.com. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  6. ↑ Overend, Riley (April 29, 2023). "U.S. Paralympics Swimming Selects 22 (Including Just 6 Men) for 2023 Worlds Roster". SwimSwam . Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  7. ↑ D'Addona, Dan (September 27, 2025). "World Para Swimming Championships: USA Ties for Most Gold on Final Day". Swimming World . Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  8. ↑ Bowker, Paul D. (June 16, 2022). "Swimming Began As Rehabilitation For Leanne Smith; Now She Can't Stop Winning". teamusa.com. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  9. ↑ Meyer, Dan (October 5, 2023). "How Community Keeps Para Swimmer Leanne Smith Strong Anywhere She Goes". NBC Sports . Retrieved October 5, 2023.
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