Regan Smith College

Regan Smith, the "Riptide Rocket," is an American competitive swimmer who has taken the swimming world by storm with her remarkable achievements at a young age. Born on February 9, 2002, in Lakeville, Minnesota, Smith has been making waves in the pool since her early teens, setting numerous age-group records and claiming multiple national titles.

Regan Smith's College Career

Regan Smith began her college career at Stanford University in the fall of 2021. During her freshman year, she showcased her exceptional talent, winning multiple Pac-12 and NCAA titles. However, after the 2021-2022 season, Smith decided to leave Stanford and turn professional, joining the Sun Devils training group at Arizona State University under the guidance of renowned coach Bob Bowman.

Regan Smith's Position at College

At Stanford, Regan Smith specialized in the backstroke, butterfly, and freestyle events. Her primary strokes were the backstroke and butterfly, where she excelled at both the college and international levels.

Regan Smith's College Achievements

During her freshman year at Stanford, Regan Smith achieved numerous accolades, including

• 2022 Pac-12 Women's Swimmer of the Year

• 2022 Pac-12 Women's Freshman Swimmer of the Year

• Seven-time All-American

• CSCAA Scholar All-American

• Two-time Pac-12 Women's Swimmer of the Week

Smith's impressive performances at Stanford earned her a spot on the Stanford Cardinal record books, ranking:

• 1st all-time in the 100-yard backstroke (49.73)

• 2nd all-time in the 200-yard backstroke (1:47.76)

• 2nd all-time in the 100-yard butterfly (49.87)

• 2nd all-time in the 400-yard medley relay (3:25.54)

• 3rd all-time in the 200-yard butterfly (1:50.99)

Where did Regan Smith Go to School?

Before her college career, Regan Smith attended Lakeville North High School in her hometown of Lakeville, Minnesota. However, in 2012, she changed to homeschooling to focus more on her swimming training and competitions.

Smith's journey in swimming began at a young age when she joined Apple Valley's Riptide Swim Club at the age of 12. Under the guidance of coach Mike Parratto, she quickly rose through the ranks, setting numerous state, national, and junior world records.

Regan Smith's International Achievements

Regan Smith's success extends far beyond the college level. She has represented the United States at numerous international competitions, including the Olympic Games, World Championships, and Pan Pacific Games.

Smith's most notable achievements include:

• Three Olympic medals: 200m butterfly (silver), 100m backstroke (bronze), 4x100m medley relay (silver)

• Four-time World Championships medalist: 100m backstroke (gold - 2022), 200m backstroke (gold - 2019), 4x100m medley relay (gold - 2019, 2022)

• Former world record holder in the 100m backstroke and 200m backstroke

Turning Professional and Joining ASU

In August 2022, Smith decided to turn professional and leave Stanford to train with Bob Bowman, the renowned coach of legendary swimmer Michael Phelps, at Arizona State University. This move allowed Smith to focus solely on her swimming career and increase her training intensity in preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Smith explained her decision, stating, "After a tremendous amount of reflection and soul-searching, I have chosen to pursue my competitive swimming goals as a professional athlete. After spending a substantial part of the last two years on my mental game, it's time to focus on increasing my training intensity. I'm entirely confident that Bob's leadership and training will have me exactly where I want to be for Paris 2024."