OLYMPIC MEDALLIST GRAEME SMITH ENDS 51MILLION METRE JOURNEY
A journey charting the most challenging of international
waters has come to an end for Olympic medallist Graeme Smith
who earned medals at every major world swimming meet on his
was to amassing more than 51million metres.
The 29-year-old British distance swimmer announced his retirement
after 15 years of dedication to swimming and the sporting
rewards earned in that time have been more than the Manchester-based
swimmer ever imagined.
His haul for 13 years as an international swimmer include
an Olympic bronze in the 1500m Freestyle in Atlanta 1996,
a silver and a bronze at the World Championships in 2001 as
well as medals at both European and Commonwealth level.
Smith's ability to be able to stay at the top of his sport
for as long as he has sets him apart from most other swimmers
and in an event that pushes the body to the extreme.
"I feel I've taken myself as far as I can in the sport
so the time's right to say goodbye.
"I've won 12 medals at every major championships around
the globe, I've been ranked in the world's top 10 for the
past 11 years and I've achieved more than I ever dreamed of.
"If someone had told me 15 years ago what I would achieve,
I would have called for a straight jacket. Back then I never
thought it a possibility."
Smith's dedication and experience are traits National Performance
Director Bill Sweetenham is keen to keep as part of British
Swimming and Smith will retain an involvement in the sport
working with swimmers.
"Graeme has been an outstanding athlete having been
ranked in the top 10 in the world, in arguably the toughest
event, for 11 consecutive years. On top of that he's accomplished
every accolade possible with medals at Olympic, World, Commonwealth
and European standard.
"No-one could have set higher standards for themselves
than Graeme did and he'll continue to be a great asset to
British Swimming in his part time role as an athlete liaison
officer.
"His role will be to provide outstanding leadership
to young athletes coming through while continuing to represent
senior athletes at international level."
Scotsman Smith swam his first ever 1500m at a national age
group championship when he was 14 and it was at that point
he started to work towards his ambitions.
"In many ways I can consider myself quite fortunate.
When I was 16 I won silver at the European Junior Championships
and at that age there are many other distractions to draw
you away from sport. Without that performance maybe life would
have taken me down another route. "
Smith achieved Olympic success four years later in Atlanta
and he remembers vividly the whole experience.
"I was amazed how relaxed I was feeling the day leading
up to the race but the nerves really hit when I walked out
at the competition pool.
"My Olympic medal is very special to me and to stand
on the podium with my family and friends there watching was
unbelievable."
Whereas most athletes would choose an Olympic medal as the
highlight of a career, for Smith his came five years later
and after a disappointing Sydney 2000.
"It wasn't an Olympics but for me the 2001 World Championships
were the highpoint of my career for a host of reasons.
"I was 25 and for the first time ever I was able to
go under 15minutes for the 1500m. I won a bronze in the 800m
and then silver in the 1500m, and everyone was there to enjoy
it with me. It was quite an emotional experience.
"It was special because after Sydney 2000 I was thinking
about finishing but my family, coach and friends persuaded
me to carry on and I did. A year later I won medals against
the best swimmers in the world."
Smith returned to the University of Manchester after competing
in his third Olympics in Athens this year and is currently
repeating the second year of a business economics degree.
"The university has been very supportive allowing me
to combine my swimming and schooling. They helped when I decided
to go full-time swimming until I retired and now I'm back
studying again. At 10 years it could be the longest three-year
degree in history.
During the many years Smith has had invaluable support from
a host of people but his family have been the backbone of
that vital component.
"My parents have always supported me fully in my swimming,
as have the whole family, and in Dave Calleja and Sean Kelly
I've had two very good coaches.
"My training partners and friends have always been there
for me. It's been a great supporting team that has helped
me through the barren times and celebrated the good times.
"Since 1997 Lottery funding has been a great help to
me and countless athletes all over the country. It's helped
us to stay in sport and to achieve great things for our nation.
And I also owe a lot to Sport Scotland for the support they've
given me over the years and hopefully I repaid this faith
with my medals at the Commonwealth Games in 2002."
Smith leaves the sport with a smile on his face thanks to
his achievements that he attributes to training up to 85km
a week, for around 49 weeks a year over the past decade-and-a-half.
"I have had very few regrets in my career. I achieved
more than I dreamed I could and can walk away from competition
with some fantastic memories.
"Sometimes I think 'What if Bill Sweetenham had arrived
four years earlier than he did'. I'm not taking anything away
from those before but Bill has brought in distance specialists
such as Bob Treffene to work with the swimmers and the results
have been special.
"Having that support four years earlier and I could
have possibly achieved something in Sydney 2000."
These resources have ensured Graeme Smith leaves distance
swimming in this country in great shape.
"Distance swimming in Britain is strong at the moment.
David Davies is an outstanding talent as he showed in Athens.
He came very close to beating the great Grant Hackett and
it will be a great race at the World Championships his summer
again with involvement from the US and Russia.
"The women are also fortunate to be lead by the likes
of Becky Cooke, an inspiration to all of us, and new talent
is always emerging such as Kerri-Anne Payne.
"The resources and support that's in place now ensure
these talents can be maximised."
One swimmer who will certainly miss competing against Smith
is his good friend and one-time understudy David Davies who
emulated Smith when he won bronze at last summer's Olympics.
"Graeme is a great friend and has been a fabulous swimmer
for so many years. He's one of the closest friends I have
in the sport. When I came on the scene he helped me a lot
and it was good to have someone to look up to, he's got so
much knowledge and experience.
"He made sure I matured pretty quickly. I would sit
down with him to listen forever to the things he had to say.
I've got so much respect for him."
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