Aug 12, 2014 By Eleanor Bailey 3 min read

Since earning a spot on the United States national swim team, Leah Smith has had little time to surface for air. The Mt. Lebanon resident appeared on the NBC Today Show Aug. 11 and then departed for Australia. Down Under, she will compete Aug. 21-25 in the Pan Pacific Championships.

Smith qualified for the competition in Gold Coast during the Phillips 66 National Championships held Aug. 6-10 at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center in Irvine, Calif. She finished third in the women’s 200-meter freestyle event with a personal-best time of 1:57.57.

Prior to that, Smith’s best time had been a 1:58.5. After her race, Smith immediately told Swimming World that she has been coming back slowly.

“I was thinking a 1:57 would make the team. I was nervous about my 1:58 because a lot of girls have gone that,” said the daughter of Dan and Margee Smith. “So I am really glad I got under that.”

Although more a distance swimmer, Smith felt she had a better chance of qualifying in the 400 and 800 races because the 200 was ‘a real competitive event.’ The race featured Olympic gold medalists Katie Ledecky and Missy Franklin. Ledecky won the event in 1:55.16 while Franklin secured second in 1:56.40.

“Yes,” she admitted. “I was nervous, but what made it better was that I was friends with them. The whole final was so friendly. I wasn’t really intimidated by anyone. We are all around the same age,” noted Smith of the 19-year-old Franklin and 17-year-old Ledecky. “We were having fun in the ready room. They were all relaxing me. So I knew I was going to have a good race.”

Smith also had a good race in the 400. She took third with a 4:06.28. Ledecky shattered the world record and finished first in 3:58.86. Ledecky also won the 800 free (8:18.47) while Smith secured sixth in 8:30.86. Smith also finished fifth in the 1,500.

“Actually, I felt my 400 was going to be my best race. My 800 was a little off. The 200, I wasn’t sure. It’s really hard to qualify for it. So I am really excited about that.”

While Smith noted that she didn’t have a good 200 during the NCAA championships this winter, missing the B final by one spot, she knew swimming meters, rather than yards, was to her advantage. “I’ve always been strong long course in all my events. I’m better at it.”

While it ‘worked out perfectly’ for her, Smith added to have qualified was a surprise. “Definitely, it’s still a shock,” she said.

Earlier this year, Smith shocked the college scene when she garnered ACC Freshman of the Year honors. The rising sophomore at the University of Virginia earned All-America honors in the 1,650 and 500 free races as well as the 800 free relay. In addition to shattering school records in the 1,650 and the relay, Smith won ACC titles in the 500 and 1,650 as well as relay.

Scholastically, Smith excelled at Oakland Catholic, shattering records on her way to multiple WPIAL and PIAA championships. A scholastic and academic All-American, Smith has also been a member of the U.S. national junior team and a participant in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Smith comes from a family of swimmers and athletes. Her father pole vaulted for the Cavaliers. Her sister, Aileen, swims at Columbia, while her younger brother, Neal, competes at Central Catholic. She is the great granddaughter of Jimmy Smith and great niece of Billy Conn.