Kelowna’s Kierra Smith will swim for Canada Wednesday night in Rio in the semifinals of the women’s 200 metre breaststroke.
Smith, 22, won her heat Wednesday morning in a time of 2:23.69, the sixth fastest time overall to qualify for the second round.
The strongest of her two events at the Olympic Games, Smith was pleased with the outcome of her first 200 metre swim in Rio. Earlier in the week, she finished 19th overall in the 100 breaststroke.
“I feel great, I love the 200-metre breaststroke,” Smith told the CBC. “I was really excited for today to come, especially after missing the semi in the 100. I just knew I was ready for the 200, it set me up well for today, and I’m excited for the semi tonight.”
The top eight swimmers from tonight’s semifinals will compete tomorrow in the final of the 200 metre breaststroke.
A member of the Liquid Lightning Swim Club in West Kelowna, Smith won the gold medal in the 200 metres last year at the Pan Am Games in Toronto.
