Red Deer’s Rebecca Smith might be turning a bit more superstitious after her latest result.
The 22-year-old won silver in the 200-metre freestyle at the FINA World Swimming short course Championships in Melbourne, Australia over the weekend.
Smith’s time of 1:52.24 was the exact time she posted last year in her silver medal win, at the same event in Abu Dhabi.
The close race this year saw Smith out-touch Marrit Steenbergen of the Netherlands by just 0.04, and just 0.64 separated second from seventh-place finisher Taylor Ruck (1:52.88).
“I’m so thrilled with that swim. This is my best event and having it on Day 6 is a little tough mentally just to keep my composure but I had so many great teammates around me to help me and encourage me all week. I’m so happy with that result,” said the University of Calgary nursing student.
Smith also won a pair of relay medals at the event in Australia.
Her latest medal haul comes on the heels of a remarkable performance at the 2022-23 Canada West Championships in Lethbridge.
Last month, Smith captured gold in all four of her individual events including the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle as well as the 50 butterfly.
She also set a new championship record in the women’s 50 freestyle, eclipsing the previous championship record of 25.12 set four years ago by UBC’s Hoi Lam Tam.
Smith also helped the Dinos’ 400 freestyle relay of Eliza Housman, Hannah Bennett and Avery Movold set a new championship record of 3:41.46, shaving one-tenth off the record set by UBC in 2017.
Her performance at the championships once again propelled her to be honoured as Canada West Women’s MVP for the second year in a row and is now recognized as having the most championship records of any other woman in CW swimming history.
Smith and the Dinos finished second in Canada West and the team will compete at the U SPORTS Swimming Championships in Victoria, BC, Feb. 24-26.