Kieran Smith: Pressure makes diamonds

When you think about your journey so far, what are some themes you notice?

Throughout my swimming journey, I have not been a swimmer that was in the spotlight from a young age, rather I stayed under the radar for a long time as I was steadily improving and surpassing my competitors. I was never a national age group record holder, I did not win a junior national title until my senior year of high school, and I appeared to be overlooked in many recruiting rankings.

Slowly but surely, I put in the consistent work, and have only been improving more since starting my time at the University of Florida. The consistent work has paid off since 2020, when I broke my first American record, and won my first two national titles at the Olympic Trials. I have also found that I thrive from added pressure.

Since competing at my first Olympic Trials at 2016, I have had many learning experiences to help propel me to better results as the pressure of performing has increased. I feel that I have been able to internalize the pressure and convert it into positive energy and confidence, which is why I feel like I could a first time Olympic experience as well as I did.

What are you really passionate about or enjoy doing (other than playing your sport)?

I enjoy golfing whenever I can. I like to practice precision sports like that because they are extremely gratifying when you execute a skill that you have practiced so many times before.

I am very passionate about music. I love to explore difference genres and artists, but my favorite is Tame Impala. I gravitate towards psychedelic rock/pop and synth pop. I am a musician myself, as I played cello throughout my high school career.

One of my favorite things to do is treat myself to a nice meal. Where I grew up, there is not much to do, but my favorite activity would be to go out to dinner to a nice restaurant. I am somewhat of a foodie and I also enjoy cooking for myself when I have time.

Stemming from my father, I enjoy exploring wine, and drinking new types of wine when I can.

What are some unique things about you that not everyone may know?

I was born in Australia. My brother and his soon to be wife had successful swimming careers at Indiana.

What are a few topics you enjoy speaking on?

I don't mind public speaking, and I feel most comfortable speaking about my swimming experiences. I'm a swim nerd, so I would like speaking about the philosophy and science behind my success. My club coach has been involved with the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) and always comes back with great information from different speakers. I would also love to help inspire the future of the USA swimming by speaking at select camps or national junior team camps.

What do you want to do after your professional athletic career?  

I wish to pursue a career with high level athletes, whether it be athletic training or coaching.

What are you favorite tv shows?

Breaking Bad, OBX, The Odd Couple, Stranger Things.

What music and/or podcasts do you enjoy listening to?

My favorite artists are Tame Impala, Led Zeppelin, Toro y Moi, Pond, Tears for Fears and Grimes.