Swimmer Giles Smith Working on an Olympic Dream

Swimmer Giles Smith Wins the 50m Butterfly in the 2015 Arena Pro Swim Series, one step closer to his Olympic goals.

Giles Smith is beginning his trek to the 2016 Olympics in Brasil, but first he has to qualify and there is little over a year left before the 2016 Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska.

The 2015 Arena Pro Swim Series at Santa Clara (California) took place starting last Thursday, June 18 and ran through Sunday, June 21, 2015. The event Giles was competing in was the 50M Fly.

You can watch the meet below, scroll down and press play, also included other meets:

Giles Smith won the 50m Butterfly with a time of 23.30, he put up the fourth fastest time in the world shaving 35 one-hundredths of a second off his lifetime best of 23.65. The third fastest record in the world is held by Yauheni Tsurkin at 23.26.

Giles also competed in the 100-Meter fly, but was barely beaten by California’s Tom Shields, and by barely, I mean barely 52.22 to 52.27.

Arizona Wildcats

Giles will next compete in the Pan Am Games on July 11, “”It was a good check of where I am in my training and preparation for the upcoming Pan American Games in Toronto starting July 11th so it’s good to get some confidence right before the big meet,” said Smith, “At Pan American Games I will be swimming the 100 fly and the 400 medley relay for Team USA doing butterfly. I enjoyed my time in Santa Clara.”

Last summer Giles finished sixth in both the 50 and 100 butterfly events at the Phillips 66 USA Swimming National Championships and earned a spot on the Pan American Games squad and the U.S. National Team.

Mike Watkins, USA Swimming correspondent, wrote a fantastic article about Giles Smith. In the article, he quoted Smith on when the Olympics were first talked about with his father who was also a swimmer:

“I remember being 8 years old in my Dad’s car, and after a bad day in the pool, he looked me in the face and told me that one day you can make the Olympics and don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise,” Smith said. “At the time, I thought that was crazy my Dad telling me – an average swimmer who had not even won his first race – that, but I guess he knew something I did not.”

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In high school, Giles was the National high school record holder in the 50 freestyle. He committed originally to University of Tennessee but ended up transferring to the University of Arizona and it was the best thing for him; his new coaches taught him a lot and he gained a lot of confidence. Post graduation, he now swims for and trains with the Phoenix Swim Club where it is hot.

Giles earned a degree in journalism from Arizona and graduated from Arizona in 2014. As far as a career after swimming? “I am actually thinking of going on a little bit of a different career path after my swimming career is over. I am thinking about working in sales or going to law school.” explained Smith.

Here is a list of some of his collegiate career accomplishments care of ArizonaWildcats.com:

• 13-time All-American in two seasons at Arizona
• Won the NCAA title in the 400 medley relay (2013)
• Represented Team USA at the World University Games in Russia
• Pac-12 First-Team All-Acadamic (2013)
•  CSCAA Scholar All-America honoree
• Won a national title and broke an American record on the 200 medley relay team at the NCAA Championships (2012)
• Finished eighth in the 100m Fly finals at the 2012 Olympic Trials
• 2013-14: Was named Pac-12 Men’s Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year

I asked Giles what message he has for all of his Wildcats fans, he said “I miss being back on campus at UofA!! But most importantly BearDown! Tucson will always have a special place in my heart and is a 2nd home.”

Beardown Giles! We will be cheering you on wishing you a ton of success, good luck in the Pan American Games in a couple of weeks!

Next: Swimmer Shannyn Hultin Loved her Time at Arizona