Graham Smith

Donald Graham Smith (born May 9, 1958) is a Canadian former multi-stroke swimming competitor who swam for the University of California Berkeley, and the University of Calgary and won a silver in the 4x 100-meter freestyle relay at 1976 Montreal Olympics representing Canada. He is a former world record holder. Considered one of Canada's most outstanding swimmers in the 1970's, Smith won 56 gold, 23 silver, and 8 bronze medals during his career in national, world championship and Olympic competitions. He joined Canada's National Team in 1973. He became the first Canadian to win an NCAA triple in 1979, taking both three gold medals and a relay title in one year, and leading Berkeley to the NCAA National Championships. Berkeley won the 1980 NCAA team championships again in 1980. During his time at Berkeley, he won an NCAA national swimming championship. Moving closer to home, he completed his education and swam for Hall of Fame Coach Deryk Snelling, at the University of Calgary, where Smith helped lead the Calgary team to additional national titles. Snelling, in his remarkable career, served as a Coach to the Canadian National team at six Olympic games, including four times as Head Coach.

1976 Montreal Olympics Smith won a silver medal in the men's 4x100-metre medley relay at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, where his team swam a combined time of 3:45.94. He did so alongside teammates Stephen Pickell, Clay Evans and Gary MacDonald. The Americans, as the heavy favorites, who took the gold in the 4x100 with a world record time of 3:42.22, had already set a new world record in the semi-final round of 3:47.28. In the leadoff backstroke leg, American John Nabor put the American team to an insurmountable lead.

International swimming highlights 1978 Commonwealth Games At the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Alberta, Smith became the first competitor to win six gold medals at a single Commonwealth Games; he won the 100- and 200-metre breaststroke, 200- and 400-metre individual medleys, and was part of the winning 4x100-metre freestyle and 4x100-metre medley relay teams. Smith twice broke the world record in the men's 200-metre individual medley (long course).