Clark Smith (born April 17, 1995) is a former[3] American swimmer who specialized in freestyle and butterfly. He earned an Olympic gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He is the son of John and Tori Smith, who both swam for the University of Texas. His father was an NCAA champion for the Texas Longhorns. His mother represented the US at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.[4]
In May 2013 as a senior in high school Smith broke the high school national record (NISCA) in the 100-yard butterfly in a time of 46.42 seconds. As a freshman at the University of Texas where he swam under head coach Eddie Reese, and associate coach Kris Kubik, Smith failed to qualify for the 2014 NCAA Championships held in Austin, Texas as the Longhorns finished second place in the team standings.[5]
The next year, Smith not only qualified for the meet but won an individual title in the 500-yard freestyle at the 2015 NCAA Championships. Helping the Longhorns win the overall team title.[6] At the 2016 US Olympic Trials, Smith qualified for the 4x200 free relay, and earned a gold medal in the event in Rio.
He has simultaneously held the American records in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:08.42,[7] the 1000-yard freestyle with a time of 8:33.93,[8] the 1650-yard freestyle with a time of 14:22.41, [9] and the 800-yard freestyle relay with a time of 6:08.61. Three of the four records were set during the 2017 NCAA Championships his senior year.
