L
eah Smith began her swimming career
because she wanted to get a Barbie doll,
but now her wants are focused on more
medals as she aims for the 2020 Summer
Olympics in Tokyo.
Earlier this year, Smith won a gold medal
at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro
as part of the women’s 4x200 meter freestyle
relay and a bronze medal in the women’s
individual 400-meter freestyle. She also
finished sixth in the individual 800-meter
freestyle event. Smith, from Mt. Lebanon, is
a 2013 graduate of Oakland Catholic High
School and began swimming at age five. She
says she was very reluctant to start swimming
competitively but agreed to enter a race after
her mom promised to buy her a new Barbie
doll. Even though she didn’t finish her first
race, Smith got the Barbie doll.
“I really only joined because I wanted to be
with my older siblings and cousins, but then I
fell in love with the sport,” she says.
Smith also practiced ballet for several
years, and softball,