Sports

Bronze Medalist: Glenview's Smoliga Helps Swim Team Win

The Glenbrook South graduate was part of the 400-meter freestyle swimming relay team at the Tokyo Summer Games.

Glenview native Olivia Smoliga, 26, of Team United States competes in heat one of the Women's 400-meter Freestyle Relay Saturday at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.
Glenview native Olivia Smoliga, 26, of Team United States competes in heat one of the Women's 400-meter Freestyle Relay Saturday at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

TOKYO — Though she didn't swim in the finals of the women's swimming 400-meter freestyle relay Saturday at the Tokoy Olympics, Glenview native Olivia Smoliga was an important reason why the United States won a bronze meal in the event.

Smoliga swam for Team USA during the qualifying rounds of the competition at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, but was not selected for the final by her coach, Greg Meehan. Instead, teammate Simone Manuel replaced Smoliga.

Nonetheless, the Glenbrook South High School graduate earned a medal, the second of her Olympic career. Smoliga, 26, won a gold medal in the 2016 Summer Olympics when she swam in the preliminary heat of the same event in Rio de Janerio.

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