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/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Smith, Freeman Punch Tickets To Tokyo
7/2/2021 12:25:00 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
MINNEAPOLIS - Two more Minnesota Gophers have punched their tickets to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games this summer, with alumna Kierra Smith and sophomore James Freeman set to represent their respective home countries of Canada and Botswana later this summer. They will be joining Minnesota alum Bowe Becker, who clinched his spot for Team USA earlier this week.
Smith will be competing in the women's 100-meter breaststroke, while Freeman will be taking on the men's 200m and 400m freestyle.
Tokyo will be Smith's second Olympic Games, having competed in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 as well. There, the Kelowna, British Columbia native earned the title of Olympic finalist in the 200m breast, an event she would ultimately finish seventh overall in. Smith also competed in the 100m breast in Rio, finishing 19th overall.
The NCAA Champion's selection to the Olympic roster came after the conclusion of the Canadian Swimming Team Trials which were held this past weekend. At the trials, Smith competed in both the 200m and 100m breast, finishing second (2:25.73) and third (1:07.72), respectively.
Having also competed in Rio, Smith remains the fourth Gopher female to compete at an Olympic Games, joined by alumnae Jillian Tyler (Canada), Kelci Bryant (U.S.) and Olga Splichalova (Czech Republic). Smith's 2020 appearance will mark the fourth straight games where a female Gopher has competed, and the eighth straight for any Minnesota swimmer or diver.
Though Freeman will be making his Olympic debut in 2021, he is no stranger to the national stage, having represented his home country numerous times before. The Palapye, Botswana native registered some of his best finishes at the South African National Aquatic Championships, tallying eight top-six finishes since 2018 over two years.
In that same span, Freeman has managed to set a remarkable 12 national Botswanan records. Currently, he holds every individual freestyle, butterfly and medley record for his home country, as well as having swam the anchor leg of the record-setting 4x100 freestyle relay at the CANA ZONE IV Championships.
Alongside Becker, Freeman becomes the 18th Gopher male to make an Olympic roster and the 12th since 2000.
The Tokyo games will be held from July 23 to August 8, with every swimming event taking place from July 24 - Aug 1. All swimming events will be competed in the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.
Smith will be competing in the women's 100-meter breaststroke, while Freeman will be taking on the men's 200m and 400m freestyle.
Tokyo will be Smith's second Olympic Games, having competed in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 as well. There, the Kelowna, British Columbia native earned the title of Olympic finalist in the 200m breast, an event she would ultimately finish seventh overall in. Smith also competed in the 100m breast in Rio, finishing 19th overall.
The NCAA Champion's selection to the Olympic roster came after the conclusion of the Canadian Swimming Team Trials which were held this past weekend. At the trials, Smith competed in both the 200m and 100m breast, finishing second (2:25.73) and third (1:07.72), respectively.
Having also competed in Rio, Smith remains the fourth Gopher female to compete at an Olympic Games, joined by alumnae Jillian Tyler (Canada), Kelci Bryant (U.S.) and Olga Splichalova (Czech Republic). Smith's 2020 appearance will mark the fourth straight games where a female Gopher has competed, and the eighth straight for any Minnesota swimmer or diver.
Though Freeman will be making his Olympic debut in 2021, he is no stranger to the national stage, having represented his home country numerous times before. The Palapye, Botswana native registered some of his best finishes at the South African National Aquatic Championships, tallying eight top-six finishes since 2018 over two years.
In that same span, Freeman has managed to set a remarkable 12 national Botswanan records. Currently, he holds every individual freestyle, butterfly and medley record for his home country, as well as having swam the anchor leg of the record-setting 4x100 freestyle relay at the CANA ZONE IV Championships.
Alongside Becker, Freeman becomes the 18th Gopher male to make an Olympic roster and the 12th since 2000.
The Tokyo games will be held from July 23 to August 8, with every swimming event taking place from July 24 - Aug 1. All swimming events will be competed in the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.
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