2023 NCAA Division III Champion Olivia Smith Heading to Georgia for 5th Year

2023 NCAA Division III Champion in the 100 backstroke Olivia Smith has announced on Instagram she will be attending Georgia for her COVID-19 fifth year of eligibility.

“I am thrilled to announce my commitment to the University of Georgia to swim for my 5th year and pursue a Masters in Public Health. Go Dawgs! 🐾”

Smith spent her first four years at Kenyon College in Ohio. As a freshman, Smith won the NCAC title in the 100 back swimming a 55.46. She also was second in the 200 back (2:01.75) and fourth in the 100 fly (55.30).

As a junior, she defended her conference title winning the 100 back in a 55.03. She also was second in the 200 back (2:00.41) and third in the 100 fly (55.81). She went on to swim at NCAAs and finished third in the 100 back (54.97), fourth in the 200 back (1:59.04), and fourth in the 100 fly (54.62). She scored 46 individual points helping Kenyon win the NCAA title as a team.

In her senior year, Smith won the 100 back conference title again (55.61). She also won the 200 back for the first time, touching in a 2:00.39. She finished second in the 100 fly touching in a 55.28.

At 2023 NCAAs, she won the 100 back in a personal best time of 54.00. She also was fourth in the 200 back (2:00.51) and ninth in the 100 fly (54.56). She scored 44 individual points.

Her best SCY times are:

• 100 back: 54.00
• 200 back: 1:59.04
• 100 fly: 54.56

The Georgia women finished sixth out of 12 teams at 2023 SECs. Smith is just off what it took to make it back in the 100 back as it took a 53.56. It took a 1:56.20 to earn a second swim in the 200 back and a 53.50 in the 100 fly.

The team’s fastest 100 backstroke Eboni McCarty will be entering her junior year. This is the second year in a row where the Bulldogs have picked up a fifth year backstroker as Marie Schobel arrived from Penn State this past season.

Smith is originally from Spanish Fort, Alabama.