Kieran Smith's Olympic hopes crushed in heat stage

Former Florida Gators swimmer Kieran Smith won’t be repeating as a medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics after failing to qualify for the 400-meter freestyle final on Saturday.

The American finished with the 11th fastest time of the morning, clocking a 3:46.47 and placing sixth in his heat. Only the top eight overall times advance to the final, with two reserves in case of injury.

Smith was the lone medalist from the 2020 Tokyo Games hopeful to repeat coming into the event. Tokyo gold medalist Ahmed Hafnaoui (Tunisia) has been dealing with an injury all summer, and Australian silver medalist Jack McLoughlin retired two years ago.

Fellow American Aaron Shackell placed sixth overall and advanced to the evening’s final.

Kieran Smith as a Florida Gator

Smith spent four years (2018-22) swimming for the Gators, earning 28 All-American nods, four SEC team championships and two national championships.

He burst onto the scene as a freshman, earning SEC Co-Freshman of the Year honors after winning the 200m individual medley with a swim in 2019. As a sophomore, Smith performed even better, qualifying for the NCAA Championships in the 100m, 200m and 500m freestyle.

Smith won his first NCAA Championship in the 200m freestyle as a junior. He also placed second in the 500m free that year. His second national championship came as a member of the 200m freestyle relay team which set a program record of 1:14.11.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.