Giles Smith

Giles Smith is a huge inspiration to sub 6-foot swimmers who seek greatness. At 5′ 10″, Smith has become a familiar name among the best in the NCAA, and boasts an Olympic Trials finals appearance. He was born to parents Harold and Marcia Smith in Baltimore, MD, on November 28, 1991. He attended McDonogh High School, where he was a 5-time All-American, 14-time Maryland state record holder, and the first high school swimmer from Baltimore to break the 21 second barrier in the 50 yard freestyle. He left high school as the national high school record holder in the 50 free and with five US Open cuts in yards. His 19.74, 44.29 and 1:37.79 in the 50, 100, and 200 yard freestyle as well as 48.30 and 1:49.60 in the 100 and 200 yard butterfly made him a highly coveted college recruit.
National and International Swimming:

U.S. Junior Nationals 2007-2009

Smith’s first national meet was the 2007 Speedo Junior Nationals at age 15. He swam the sprint freestyle and butterfly events at the Junior Nationals through 2009.

2010 U.S. Summer Nationals

In 2010, Smith swam at the 2010 USA National Championships, achieving his first Olympic Trials cuts in the 100 meter freestyle (51.35) and 100 meter butterfly (54.74).

2011 U.S. Summer Nationals

At the 2011 National Champs, Smith lowered his personal bests in the 50, 100 and 200 free to 23.24, 50.24 and 1:50.62 as well as bringing his 100 fly way down (52.50). His 200 free at this meet earned him another trials cut.

2012 Olympic Trials

At the 2012 Olympic Trials, Smith chose to swim only the 100 free and 100 fly. He placed 50th overall in the 100 in a time of 50.75. In the fly, however, he posted a time of 52.67 to finish 8th in finals.

2013 U.S. Open/Summer Nationals

Smith competed in the 2013 US Open, most notably posting a new best in the 50 free (23.22). At the 2013 National Champs, Smith’s efforts in the 100 free and 100 fly were rewarded with a 15th and 7th place finish. He broke the 50-second barrier in the 100 free (49.93). He also swam the 50 meter butterfly (23.96) to place 5th overall.

2013 World University Games

Smith was also chosen to swim for the US at the 2013 World University Games in Kazan, Russia. He contributed as anchor of the 4×100 meter freestyle relay, going 49.52 to secure 4th place overall in that event.

2014 U.S. Summer Nationals

2014 was Smith’s best national performance yet. At US Nationals, he stuck to the sprint fly events, yielding two 6th place finishes in the 50 and 100 fly. He swam a personal best of 23.88 in the 50 fly finals, and his 52.02 from the 100 fly prelims was also a best. That 100 fly time ranked him as the 20th fastest in the world in 2014, while his 50 fly time was just outside top 50 in the world.

2015 Pan American Games

In Toronto, Smith took gold in 100 meter butterfly in 52.04, setting a new games record by one hundredth of a second. He also picked up a silver with his USA teammates in the 400 meter medley relay.