Olivia Smoliga is a renowned American competitive swimmer, celebrated for her prowess in backstroke and freestyle events.
Born on October 12, 1994, in Glenview, Illinois, she has emerged as one of the most decorated swimmers in U.S. history, blending raw talent with relentless determination.
Smoliga’s physical attributes have been key to her dominance in the pool, but it’s her mental resilience and passion for the sport that truly define her.
From a young age, she displayed prodigious talent, cracking 22 seconds in the 50-meter freestyle as a high schooler—a feat that made her the first female to achieve it.
Off the water, Smoliga is an engaging personality, sharing glimpses of her life as a coffee enthusiast, foodie, and vlogger on platforms like YouTube, where she hosts chats with fellow athletes.
Siblings
Olivia has a younger brother, Mathew Smoliga, whom she describes as the “cooler sibling” in a heartfelt interview.
Matt, with his witty humor, popularity, and level-headed nature, stands out as a source of inspiration for Olivia; she admires how he balances hard work with a lighthearted approach to life, qualities she strives to embody.
Career
After graduating from Glenbrook South High School in 2013, where she was named Swimming World Magazine’s Female High School Swimmer of the Year, Smoliga headed to the University of Georgia on a full athletic scholarship.
Under coach Jack Bauerle, she shattered school records in the 50 and 100 freestyle as well as the 100 backstroke, amassing 16 Southeastern Conference (SEC) titles—eight individual and eight relay—en route to being crowned SEC Female Swimmer of the Year in her senior season.
Also Read: Kathleen Baker Siblings: All About Rachel Baker
Her professional leap came post-college, aligning with her Olympic debut in 2016 at the Rio Games, where she contributed to the gold-medal-winning 4×100-meter medley relay team.
The pinnacle arrived in 2018 at the World Championships in Hangzhou, where she achieved a historic sweep, securing gold in every event she entered.
Smoliga’s versatility shone in the International Swimming League’s inaugural season in 2019, and she represented Team USA again at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, earning a relay spot despite a heartbreaking near-miss in the individual 100 backstroke.
Post-Tokyo, she channeled her experiences into coaching via her In Depth Swim Academy, while occasionally competing in open water events like the Chicago Open Swim, where she claimed victory in the women’s 1-mile non-wetsuit race.
Though she stepped back from full-time elite racing around 2022, her legacy endures through endorsements with brands like FINIS and her ongoing advocacy for mental growth in sports.
Accolades
Smoliga’s trophy cabinet gleams with accolades that underscore her status as a swimming icon, beginning with her high school milestone as the first female to break 22 seconds in the 50 freestyle and her near-qualification for the 2012 Olympics at just 17 years old.
At the University of Georgia, she etched her name into program lore with those 16 SEC titles and multiple school records, culminating in her SEC Female Swimmer of the Year honor.
Her international breakthrough came at the 2016 Rio Olympics with gold in the 4×100-meter medley relay.
Yet, it’s the 2018 World Championships that cements her as a legend: she became the first swimmer, male or female, to win eight gold medals in a single edition, dominating the 50 backstroke (setting an American record at 25.88), 100 backstroke, and multiple relays.
Additional World Championship hauls include bronzes in the 100 backstroke at the 2019 edition and silvers in mixed relays.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
