December 26, 2024
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Regan Smith, swimmer with local roots competing for spot in Olympics

US Olympic Swim Team Trials resume Sunday, run through June 20

By J.T. Pedelty
Olympic hopeful Regan Smith, pictured here with her grandmother, Lostant native Marge Moore, is competing in the ongoing U.S. Olympic Team Trials for a chance to swim for the United States in the upcoming Olympic Games.

Olympic hopeful Regan Smith, pictured here with her grandmother, Lostant native Marge Moore, is competing in the ongoing U.S. Olympic Team Trials for a chance to swim for the United States in the upcoming Olympic Games. (Contributed)

OMAHA, Neb. - As Wave II of the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials got underway Sunday, a world record-holding young swimmer with local roots will be aiming to punch her ticket to this summer’s Tokyo Games.

Regan Smith is the world record-holder in both the 100-meter backstroke (with a top time of 57.57 seconds) and 200-meter backstroke (2:03.35). The 19-year-old Stanford University star is expected to be featured on NBC Sports/Peacock’s coverage of the Olympic Trials as she competes for a spot in the rescheduled Olympic Games, and is a favorite to lead the team’s roster and compete for gold in late July/early August.

The events she will be competing in include the 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke, 100 butterfly and 200 butterfly.

Smith’s maternal family is from Lostant, many of them still living in the area, including grandmother Marge Moore, aunt Lynn Rose and uncles Bill and Rick Moore. Regan’s mother is Bonnie Smith, who lives with her family — including Regan — in Lakeville, Minn.