Former Ridgefield High School Student On His Way To The Olympics

RIDGEFIELD, CT — A former Ridgefield High School swimming star has made it the U.S. Olympic Team competing in Tokyo this summer.

Kieran Smith, who just completed his junior year at the University of Florida, won the 400-meter freestyle in the U.S. Olympic trials held in Omaha, NE, over the weekend. Smith's time of 3 minutes, 44.86 seconds beat his previous personal best by 2.85 seconds, and his closest competitor in the trials by 3.31 seconds.

"I think 3:44 for right now is pretty good," Smith told Swimming World Magazine. "I don't know where I rank in the world right now. Hopefully it's top-eight or top-10. There's definitely a little bit more work to do. The back half wasn’t perfect. I probably have a little bit more to give on the third-to-last 50 and second-to-last 50, but I think once I get thrown into a tight race, I'll be able to do my best for Team USA."

Smith's reserved his seat on that Tokyo-bound plane, but he is still competing for additional roles on the U.S. Team, and the opportunity to bring home more medals. He is scheduled to swim in the 200-meter freestyle trial in Omaha on Monday.

Smith follows in the wake of another Ridgefield Olympian, Janel Jorgensen, who made the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team in her junior year at RHS. She placed fifth in the 100-meter butterfly race, and helped her team win the silver medal in the event.

The 2021 Olympics in Tokyo are scheduled from July 23 through Aug. 8.