Leanne Smith (born May 8, 1988) is an American Paralympic swimmer who represented the United States at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.[1]
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | May 8, 1988 Beverly, Massachusetts, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home town | Salem, Massachusetts, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Paralympic swimming | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Disability | Dystonia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Disability class | S3, SM3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Career
editSmith 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]
Personal life
editIn 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.[7][8]
References
edit- ^ "Leanne Smith". TeamUSA.org. Archived from the original on July 29, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021.[dead link]
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Leanne Smith leads U.S. with seven golds at world para swimming championships". NBC Sports. June 18, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
- ^ Costantini, Lisa (January 16, 2024). "Paralympic Swimmer Leanne Smith On Her Comeback Story". teamusa.com. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ Overend, Riley (April 29, 2023). "U.S. Paralympics Swimming Selects 22 (Including Just 6 Men) for 2023 Worlds Roster". swimswam.com. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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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