Sierra Schmidt (born May 6, 1998) is a retired American competition

swimmer Swimming is an individual or team racing sport that requires the use of one's entire body to move through water. The sport takes place in pools or open water (e.g., in a sea or lake). Competitive swimming is one of the most popular Olympic ...

Early life

Schmidt was born to Melinda and Joseph Schmidt in

Scottsdale, Arizona , settlement_type = City , named_for = Winfield Scott , image_skyline = , image_seal = Seal of Scottsdale (Arizona).svg , image_blank_emblem = City of Scottsdale Script Logo.svg , nick ...

. Schmidt graduated from the 21st Century Cyber Charter School in

Exton, Pennsylvania Exton is a census-designated place (CDP) in West Whiteland Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. Its population was 5,622 at the 2020 census. The Exton Square Mall and Main Street at Exton are both located within Exton along w ...

in 2017.

Career

Schmidt won a gold medal at the

2015 Pan American Games Fifteen or 15 may refer to: *15 (number), the natural number following 14 and preceding 16 *one of the years 15 BC, AD 15, 1915, 2015 Music *Fifteen (band), a punk rock band Albums * ''15'' (Buckcherry album), 2005 * ''15'' (Ani Lorak alb ...

in the 800 metre freestyle. This performance set a Pan American Games record. She was a multiple time junior national champion in 2014 and competed for the

North Baltimore Aquatic Club The North Baltimore Aquatic Club (NBAC) is a swim club based in and around Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1968, it continues to offer training for young swimmers. It is best known for developing a dozen Olympic swimmers, six of whom earned gold m ...

from 2014-2016. She competed for the University of Michigan and Club Wolverine from 2017-2021 and graduated from the

University of Michigan , mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth" , former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821) , budget = $10.3 billion (2021) , endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...

in May 2021, earning a BA in Film, Television, and Media, with honors. She was a six-time CSCAA All-American, Big Ten champion in the 800 free relay, as well as a two-time Big-Ten Distinguished Scholar and four-time CSCAA Scholar All-American during her time in Ann Arbor. Schmidt announced that she signed a sponsorship deal with TYR Sport on June 3, 2021. Schmidt is known as the “Dancing Queen” for her ritual of dancing behind the starting blocks prior to her races. Schmidt qualified for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, where she finished 10th in the 400 meter freestyle and 8th in the 800 meter freestyle. At the postponed 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials, June 13–20, 2021, Sierra finished 6th in the 400 meter freestyle, 8th in the 800 meter freestyle, and 7th in the 1500 meter freestyle, one of only three swimmers to qualify for all three distance finals in the arduous Olympic prelim/final schedule. Her best time in the 1500 free from a month prior, 16:06.85, was ranked 19th in the world at that time. Schmidt announced her retirement on June 29th, 2023, following her participation at the 2023 U.S. National Championships in Indianapolis. Schmidt's last event in the competition was the 400 meter freestyle, which took place on June 30th, 2023.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Schmidt, Sierra 1998 births Living people Sportspeople from Scottsdale, Arizona American female freestyle swimmers Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States Pan American Games medalists in swimming Swimmers at the 2015 Pan American Games Universiade medalists in swimming Universiade bronze medalists for the United States FISU World University Games gold medalists for the United States Medalists at the 2017 Summer Universiade Medalists at the 2019 Summer Universiade Medalists at the 2015 Pan American Games 21st-century American women Michigan Wolverines women's swimmers