Mt. Lebanon native Leah Smith moves forward with training for postponed Olympic trials

After producing one of this year’s fastest swimming times in the world, Oakland Catholic graduate Leah Smith looked forward to making her second Olympic Games.

But her momentum came to a halt after the rest of the season was called off because of the coronavirus.

“It was definitely difficult to have to adjust to the postponement,” said Smith, 25, a 2016 Olympian and two-time Olympic medalist. “There have been times during this period I have had to remind myself to focus on the things I can control.

“For me, having a good attitude and trying to still stay in touch with goal setting (have) helped me maintain my motivation.”

Smith, a U.S. National Team member who has trained at Tuscon Ford Dealers Aquatics in Arizona, is unsure when she will practice again.

“When (I do), I will have a conversation with my coaches about how we want to attack this year,” she said. “I’m looking forward to doing that.

“I have been staying in shape by doing online workouts on different fitness apps and going for spin classes on my Peloton bike. Sometimes, I text a friend and we do a class at the same time and call each other after.”

Smith said she has been signing up for lap swimming and trying to maintain some skills and her feel for the water.

Smith, who was raised in Mt. Lebanon and swam at Virginia, recorded her world-best time in the 800-meter freestyle in 8 minutes, 23.46 seconds in the TYR Pro Swim Series in March in Des Moines, Iowa. The meet was the third of five stops the world’s top swimmers were making in the U.S. in preparation for their run to the Tokyo Olympic Games July 23-Aug. 8.

She was scheduled to compete in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials June 21-28 in Omaha, Neb.

The Olympic trials and Olympics have been postponed to next year.