Rebecca Smith, at just 21, is an Olympic silver medallist, and showed off her hardware at the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame on Aug. 12, 2021. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

showing off the hardware

Rebecca Smith returns home after Tokyo triumph

Aug 12, 2021 | 4:44 PM

Red Deer’s very own Olympic silver medallist has returned home.

Rebecca Smith, the first Red Deerian to ever medal at the Summer Games, met with media and a few patrons at the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday.

The former Catalina Swim Club member won the silver alongside teammates Penny Oleksiak, Kayla Sanchez and Margaret Mac Neil in the 4×100 metre swim relay.

“I think I’m still getting used to (the title),” Smith said of being called an Olympic medallist. “There were no spectators at the Olympics, but I did have so much support back home. So being back in my hometown, it’s been crazy.”

Smith moved to Toronto at the age of 16 to receive training at the high performance centre there. She admits it’s been a long journey.

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“To finally know that all my hard work paid off means so much,” she said, sharing a message for youngsters out there.

Rebecca Smith shares her medal with Alberta Sports Hall of Fame patron Isaac Bird, 11, whose family was visiting the venue from Edmonton on Aug. 12, 2021. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

“At a young age, it’s so important just to have fun with the sport. One of my coaches in Toronto used to say to me that a happy swimmer is a fast swimmer. It makes all the difference.”

Smith is set to attend the University of Calgary this fall where she’ll study nursing and swim on the varsity team with eyes potentially set on competing at Paris 2024.

On her 2020 Games experience, Smith admits there were some nerves,

“I was definitely more nervous at trials because I wanted to make sure I secured my spot. But when I was in Tokyo, walking out to the pool with the three other girls, it made it so much better,” she says.

“I’ve never felt that fast before in a pool, and to be at the Olympic Games knowing everything I’d worked hard for finally became a reality is probably what I’ll remember most.”

Other than winning a medal, of course.

Smith and a number of her Olympic teammates will be honoured at the Calgary Stampeders game against the B.C. Lions on Aug. 12

For folks who want to meet Smith, the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame is hosting a free meet and greet event with her, and possibly some other special guests, on Aug. 25, with the public welcome from 5-7 p.m.

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