(L-R) Barb Clark Parolin, who won the bronze medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games in the 4x100 metre freestyle relay team event. Rebecca Smith, who won the silver medal in the same event at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games. (Jordan Davidson)

By Jordan Davidson (Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow)

Silver medalist meets bronze medalist

Rebecca Smith meets fans and Olympic peer at Alberta Sports Hall of Fame

Aug 26, 2021 | 12:46 PM

Central Albertans had the chance to get up close and personal with an Olympic medal winner on Wednesday.

Red Deer native Rebecca Smith was at the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum (ASHFM) for a meet and greet with fans and local dignitaries.

Rebecca Smith stands with her silver medal at the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. (Jordan Davidson)

Red Deer city council members Lawrence Lee, Ken Johnston, and Dianne Wyntjes were in attendance, along with Red Deer-Lacombe MP Blaine Calkins, and Minister of Culture and MLA for Lacombe-Ponoka, Ron Orr.

Smith, 21, picked up a silver medal as part of Team Canada’s 4×100 metre freestyle relay swim team.

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Close up of Smith’s silver medal. (Jordan Davidson)

Smith was once a member of the Red Deer Catalina Swim Club, and was surprised by her former coach Mandi Smith (no relation) who showed up to the ASHFM on Wednesday to see the Olympic athlete.

“I moved away from here when I was 15, so it’s been a while since I’ve seen her (Maddi Smith) for sure. It was great to see her, I think she’s proud of me.”

Her former coach wasn’t the only surprise visitor for Smith that evening.

Barb Clark Parolin, of Stettler, was also part of the 4×100 freestyle relay swim team who won bronze at the 1976 Olympics Games in Montreal – the same event in which Smith won silver.

Parolin’s bronze medal. (Jordan Davidson)

Parolin serves on the selection committee for the ASHFM, and when she heard Smith was stopping by, she knew she had to grab her bronze medal and meet her.

“I was so excited for her. I’m so proud of them, it was so exciting to watch them win the silver, it was so great.”

Parolin spoke with tears in her eyes as she reminisced about her time in the pool and the connection she felt with Smith.

“It was more just the excitement of having got a medal. Especially since she’s from Red Deer. I was from Stettler, small-town kids doing something that was on the world stage that was just a thing that bonded us. It was really exciting.”

Parolin had an incredible swimming career, winning the bronze medal at only 17. Before that, she was named to the Canadian National Team in 1973, and won three gold and two silver medals at the Canada Games that same year. She also broke the Commonwealth record for the 100 metre butterfly, and became the first female ever to break the one minute time in the 100 metre freestyle.

Smith will be heading to school this fall at the University of Calgary to study nursing, and will swim for the Dinos in U Sports competition.