On top of the world
Smit swims fastest 400 and 200 IM ever
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From Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Beijing to Rome, Mount Sinai's Julia Smit has traveled the world as one of America's elite swimmers.
Last weekend Smit found herself in Manchester, England, for the Duel in the Pool, a competition between the top swimmers from three European countries and the United States. Smit stole the show by breaking two world records on consecutive days as Team USA won, 185-78, against the European team that consisted of swimmers from England, Germany and Italy.
On Friday Smit, a 2006 Mount Sinai graduate, shattered the short-course world record in the 400-meter individual medley. She finished in 4 minutes, 21.04 seconds to surpass the mark set a month earlier by Kathryn Meaklim of South Africa (4:22.88). Smit broke her own American record that she set last year in Toronto by more than four seconds.
A day after setting one world record, Smit did it again in the 200 IM. She swam 2:04.60 to break the mark set only a week earlier by Evelyn Verraszto of Hungary (2:04.64).
Smit's time broke Allison Wagner's American record that had stood since 1993. She eclipsed Wagner's time by more than three seconds.
Smit's record-breaking performance will be aired on NBC Dec. 27 from 2-4 p.m. along with other highlights from Duel in the Pool.
"I really just wanted to have fun in the race," Smit said in a press release from Stanford, where she's a senior. "I've always loved the 200m IM and I'm glad my teammates and I all went one, two and three."
The Americans swept the top three spots in the 200 IM to earn all eight points toward the team total. In the 400 IM Dagny Knutson placed second behind Smit. But third place went to Britain's Hannah Miley.
Smit returns to action with Stanford Jan. 9 when the Cardinals host Pacific. The college season wraps up with the Pac-10 Championships in late February and the NCAA Championships from March 18 to 20. Smit won the NCAA title in the 400 IM and 200 IM last year. She also won the 400 IM title as a sophomore.
The two-time Olympic medalist is a 19-time All-American at Stanford.
American and world records have been nothing new to Smit. She briefly held the short-course world record in the 400 IM in November 2008.
At the ConocoPhillips National Championships in July Smit set an American record in the 200 IM. She also qualified in the 400 IM and 4 x 100 freestyle for the FINA World Championships that concluded in August.
She placed sixth in the 400 IM and missed the finals in the 200 IM.
The National and World Championships were competed in a long course.
At the Beijing Olympics Smit won silver and bronze medals for swimming on relay teams.
joew@northshoresun.com
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