Smith Wins Two Gold Medals at World University Games Tuesday

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July 7, 2015

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GWANGJU, South Korea-Virginia swimming rising junior Leah Smith captured two gold medals for the United States at the Nambu University Aquatic Center Tuesday as part of the 2015 World University Games.

Smith (Pittsburgh, Pa.) won the 400-meter freestyle from the start, finishing in a time of 4:05.29, ahead of U.S. teammate Lindsay Vrooman (4:07.28) and Italy’s Martina De Memme (4:08.95). In prelims, Smith broke the World University Games record in a time of 4:04.66, which is the fourth-fastest time in the world this year.

In the 4×200-meter freestyle relay, Smith led off the gold medal-winning U.S. side that broke the World University Games record in a time of 7:53.88. Smith’s lead-off time was 1:58.50, a personal-best mark.

Smith is the first Cavalier swimmer to win gold at the World University Games since Matt McLean (’11) captured the 200m free and 4x200m free in 2011 and is the first Cavalier woman to win gold since Cara Lane (’03) won the 800m free and 1,500m free at the 1999 meet.

Smith was a two-time NCAA Champion and four-time ACC Champion this past year for the Cavaliers. She won the 500-yard freestyle and the 1,650y free at the NCAA Championships and took home titles in the 200y free, 500y free, 1,650y free and 800y free relay at the ACC meet. In the prelims of the 500y free at the NCAA meet, Smith set a new NCAA record (4:30.37).

Last summer, she won gold with the U.S. 4x200m free relay at the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships in Gold Coast, Australia.

Smith will compete in the 200m free prelims Wednesday (July 8).