After a tumultuous Canadian National meet, Kierra Smith will get to contest her signature event in front of the home crowd at this summer’s Pan American Games.
Smith, a finalist at both the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacs in the 200 breast last summer, was disqualified in the event at Canadian Nationals, putting a damper on her hopes to swim the event at this summer’s World Championships and Pan Ams.
But in a blog post today, Smith indicated that she will swap events for Pan Ams, switching out the 100 (the event in which she ultimately qualified for Canada’s travel teams) for the 200.
The Pan American Games have special significance to Canadian athletes this year, as the event will be hosted in Toronto.
Smith is currently one of the world’s better 200 breaststrokers, taking 4th at both Pan Pacs and Commonwealths last summer and winning the NCAA title in short course yards a short while ago.
The University of Minnesota junior recounts her and her coaches’ reactions to the disqualification in the blog, which you can read here. She also has a pretty interesting take on the entire roller-coaster ride, and gives her thoughts on this summer’s upcoming international meets. The full blog is definitely worth reading for those interested in getting some more details.
She’ll be returning to competition this weekend at the long course dual meet between Big Ten rivals Minnesota and Wisconsin, happening in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Friday and Saturday.
The SWIMSWAM weekly poll, that is still currently displayed, is very telling: only 5 % of those polled felt the criteria was exactly as it should be. 95% had issues with it.
Good Luck!
Nice blog post by Kierra.
Danjohnrob. The Canadian qualification process was more straightforward and easier than most swimming countries (ie Britain, France, Australia, Japan, Germany to name a few). Make a time that will get you a 2nd swim at the meet and you qualify. If you were top 8 in the world last year and something happened at trials we will find you a spot if there is space (Kierra). After that we will add swimmers to complete relays. Everyone at the meet knew what they had to do. Only people confused were the ones that didn’t know the criteria going in.
The US doesn’t have criteria like the rest of the world because it already the hardest standard… Read more »
Fish, Once again, I’m aware that I have no right to criticize the Canadian Swimming Federation, and your point of view is certainly as valid as mine; however, (leaving Kierra out of the discussion) only 3 men actually qualified to swim in Kazan according to Canada’s selection criteria, which I read thoroughly. Perhaps the rest of the men will REALLY only be attending the meet in Kazan to swim relays, but if they get to swim individual races I personally think it is not fair to a number of athletes who actually won titles at Trials and were eligible to compete in Kazan according to FINA, but were not chosen. I might even go so fsr as to say the… Read more »
Jared, thanks for the link to Kierra’s blog! It was a good read. I love the idea of giving Dairy Queen coupons to swimmers who DQ; although as a coach I’d worry my kids would DQ on purpose.
It’s none of my business I know, but I thought the qualification process was extremely unfair for our Canadian neighbors. If the same selection process was followed in the US there would be an uproar! On the one hand, I’m glad Kierra gets to swim the 200 in Toronto because it’s clearly her best event and she is one of Canada’s best hopes for reaching finals in the women’s 200 breast in Rio. On the other hand, I can’t help feeling sorry… Read more »