The Raw Truth about High Level Swimming with Gold Medalist Clark Smith

The Mindset Forge

Clark and Barton sit down to talk swimming, preparation for big meets, how his parents influenced his success, and much more.
More on Clark Smith
Clark Smith is a 6’9″ freestyle and butterfly specialist and student-athlete at the University of Texas. Born April 17, 1995 in Atlanta, Ga., Smith had the ability to be a great swimmer within his genes – his parents, John and Tori, also swam for Texas and his mother was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Team. Smith came within .04 seconds of breaking the National High School record in the 100 butterfly, an event he was on the USA Swimming Junior National Team for.

University of Texas
2013-2014
In his freshman season Smith swam at the Big 12 Championships, placing fourth in the 500-yard freestyle, fourth in the 200-yard butterfly and sixth in the 100-yard butterfly.

The 500-yard free was Smith’s first event at NCAA’s, and he immediately made a statement. Smith qualified for the championship final first coming out of the preliminary heats. In the final, Smith took out the first 200 yards in 1:38.02, a quick 200-yard free time in itself, and he held on until Florida’s Dan Wallace took over the lead at the 350-yard mark. But it was Smith’s last 50 yards that pulled him away — he out-split Wallace 24.03 to 25.28 to win his first national championship.

Smith then took on the 200-yard free — he qualified for the semi-final, and finished 11th overall just 0.41 seconds behind the heat’s winer. On the same night Smith led off the 800-yard free relay for Texas that took 8th. For his final individual event of the meet Smith took on the 200-yard fly, an event that was largely expected to be won by Texas. Three Texas athletes qualified for the championship final in the 200-yard fly, including Smith. Texas went 1-2 in the event, but Smith unfortunately was disqualified for a one-hand touch in the championship final of the event.

2015-2016

At the Big 12 Championships Clark won the 1,650 in a new school and Big 12 record of 14:31.29. He also was a member of the Texas 800 yard freestyle relay that took gold and finished 4th in the 500 yard freestyle. At the NCAA meet, Clark didn’t enjoy the same success as his sophomore year. As the defending champion and top seed in the 500 yard freestyle, Clark didn’t manage to reach the finals, finishing 21st in the prelims. He was also the top seed in the mile but finished 12th in the prelims.

2016 Rio Olympic Games

In his first Olympic Games, Smith earned a gold medal for his heat swim in the 800 meter freestyle relay. He lead the team off with a 1:47.20 split. Smith, Jack Conger, Gunnar Bentz and Ryan Lotche combined in a time of 7:06.74 to put Team USA through to the final in second position.

2017 World Championships

On day one Smith missed out on the 400 meter freestyle final after finishing 12th in 3:47.12. Two days later was back in action in the 800 meter freestyle where he finished 10th in the heats in 7:51.83. In his final swim, Smith won a bronze medal. It came in the 4×200 meter freestyle relay where Smith swam in the heats to put Team USA through to the final in 7th. Blake Pieroni, Townley Haas, Jack Conger and Zane Grothe combined in the final to finish third behind Great Britain and Russia.

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