Olivia Smoliga

Olivia Smoliga is an American female swimmer born on 12th October 1994. She is a native of Glenview of Illinois in the United States. Olivia is a Backstroke specialist and represents the USA in 100m Backstroke.

Background:

Olivia Smoliga was born to Tomasz Smoliga and Elzbieta Smoliga. She was born and raised in Glenview, Illinois. Her parents are from Poland and immigrated in 1991. Olivia has a younger brother Matt Smoliga who is a hockey player.

Olivia began to swim at a young age. She attended Glenbrook South High School in her hometown, where she began to take up competitive swimming. While growing up, she trained with Glenview Titan Aquatic Club. In her senior year of high school, Olivia shattered national high school records in 50m Backstroke and 100m Freestyle at the 2012 Illinois High School State Championships.

In 2013, after graduating from high school, Olivia joined the University of Georgia on an athletic scholarship and became part of the Georgia Bulldogs swimming team, where she trained under Jack Bauerle. She had represented them at the NCAA Division 1 Women’s Swimming Championships.

In 2018, Olivia graduated from the University of Georgia with a BASc degree in Psychology. She currently trains with Athens Bulldog Swim Club and Coli Condors.

Rise to Glory:

Olivia Smoliga made her national debut at the 2012 US Olympic Trials, where she finished 4th in the 100m Backstroke and 23rd in 50m Freestyle and hence failed to qualify for the London Olympics. In 2013, she won her first national title in 50m Backstroke at the USA National Swimming Championships.

In 2014, Olivia took home her first NCAA title in 50y Freestyle and two Bronze medals in 4x200y Freestyle and 4x400y Medley at the NCAA Division 1 Women’s Swimming Championships. At the 2016 US Olympic Trials, she qualified for Rio Olympics after winning the 100m Backstroke. That year, Olivia won two NCAA titles in 50y and 100y Freestyles.

In 2018, she clinched her second 50m Backstroke title and a Silver medal in 100m Backstroke at the USA National Swimming Championships.

Olivia Smoliga holds the national Long Course record in 50m Backstroke and Short Course records in 50m and 100m Backstrokes.

Major Achievements:

Olivia Smoliga made her international debut at the 2012 World Swimming Championships, where she won two Gold medals in 100m Backstroke and 4x100m Freestyle, a Silver in 50m Backstroke, and a Bronze medal in 4x100m Medley. In 2015, she won the Silver medal in 100m Backstroke at the Pan American Games.

In 2016, Olivia made her Olympics debut at the Rio Olympics and took home a Gold medal in the 4x100m Medley. At the World Aquatics Championships, Olivia had won four titles in 50m Backstroke (2019), 4x100m Freestyle (2017), and 4x100m Medley (2017 and 2019), and a Bronze medal in 100m Backstroke (2019).

At the 2018 World Swimming Championships, Olivia clinched eight Gold medals in 50m Backstroke, 100m Backstroke, 4x50m Freestyle, 4x100m Freestyle, 4x50m Medley, 4x100m Medley, 4x50m Mixed Freestyle, and 4x50m Mixed Medley at the World Swimming Championships.

Olivia Smoliga will look to qualify for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics at the US Olympic Trials and shall be in contention to win a medal in 100m Backstroke.