Allison Schmitt was inducted into the Canton High School Athletics Hall of Fame inaugural class on Saturday, February 3rd, in Canton, MI. Schmitt, an 8-time Olympic medalist, was formally inducted into the Hall of Fame along with 13 other athletes/coaches, and the 2005 football team at a banquet at the Fellows Creek Golf Club in Canton. The inductees were also honored at halftime of a Canton boys basketball game on Tuesday, February 6th.
One of our first Canton pool record holders, Paul Petersen.
Our most decorated Canton swimmer, Allison Schmitt.
Our most recent pool record holder, Daniel Mullen, who is here to support these two at Canton's Hall of Fame banquet. pic.twitter.com/D37ShcDUtk— Coach Weber (@cantonswim) February 4, 2018
Schmitt started to make a name for herself internationally while still in high school. In 2007, when she was 17, Schmitt went 1:59.47 in the LCM 200 free, and 4:11.93 in the 400 free at the 2007 Japan International Swim Meet. The following Summer, shortly after graduating from Canton High School, Schmitt qualified for the 2008 Olympic team in the 200 free and 4×200 free relay. She led off the 4×200 relay at the Olympics, which eneded up getting a Bronze medal. Schmitt came in 9th in the semifinal of the 200 free, narrowly missing the final, but her time of 1:55.92 from the Olympic Trials ended up 5th fastest in the world that season.
She went on to win 5 medals in the 2012 Olympics, taking gold in the 4×100 medley relay (world record), 4×200 free relay, and 200 free (Olympic record/American record), took silver in the 400 free (American record), and bronze in the 4×100 free relay (American record).
In the 2016 Olympics, Schmitt competed in the 4×200 free relay and in the heats of the 4×100 free relay, taking home a gold medal in the 4×200 and silver in the 4×100. Schmitt also won a multitude of medals at non-Olympic international competitions, including the FINA World Championships, Pan Pacs, and Pan American Games.
Schmitt appeared to be done after the 2016 Olympics, but she did hint (maybe) last Fall at a run for the 2020 Games in Tokyo. She never took herself off the USADA drug-testing pool, and has been getting tested regularly, so she could return to competition at any time without a mandatory waiting period.
She was easily my favorite female swimmer at the London 2012 Olympics even though Missy got all the attention. The 200 freestyle was magnificent to watch. So was the 400. It felt like with a little more room Muffst might have lost the gold to her. The 4×200 freestyle relay was also down to her. She overcame a deficit, and then clinched an OR. Even the 4×100 medley was magic with her. It looked like she was a lot of fun and joy to be around.
I think she was must under rated performances at that meet. All the attention was on Missy and the boys, but she swam lights out. Winning a 200 in the Olympics by 2 seconds is not something that happens very often. Great job Schmitty, hope to see you back in the pool 🙂
Totally agree with you. If to take away all these 2009 times that should be classified nothing else but assisted swimming then Allison Schmitt moved world record in 200 free for more than one second. That is the same level of achievement as Sjostrom improving world record from 52.06 to 51.71 if not more. She hasn’t gotten a one tenth of attention as Sarah Sjostrom has received.
So deserved; She swam the best 200 freestyle I’ve ever seen from a female in London. Hopefully her dark days are all behind her and we get to see that beautiful stroke in the pool once more.
I bet she’ll be competing very soon. Training with bowman at asu according to her Instagram.
Just for this only race she deserves any accolades in the world. It was indeed magnificent. At the end of the race she looked so happy without any trace of exhaustion. In four years Katie Ledecky almost repeated her achievement but look how much it took of her. She almost vomited.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=b3YgUGhMTB4 (What a gap! )
In Ledecky’s defense, she was only 19, and the shorter the distance, the harder for her to swim fast.
I haven’t tried to lessen Katie Ledecky’s achievement. Her versatility from 100 to 1500 is beyond comprehension. BTW in the same race Sarah Sjostrom who is the best sprinter also swam her personal best and also was at the edge of exhaustion. Her first reaction was: never again.
I only wanted underline how remarkable was the race or Allison Schmitt.