Red Deer, Alta. relay swimmer takes silver in Tokyo
21-year-old Rebecca Smith of Red Deer helped secure one of Team Canada’s first medals at the Tokyo Olympic Games on Saturday.
“The reactions was great. I think there was many tears, happy tears for sure,” said her mother Sandi from the family’s home.
Smith was competing in the women’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay with teammates Penny Oleksiak, Kayla Sanchez and Margaret MacNeil, where they secured a second-place finish.
Her family held a watch party Saturday evening, taking in the entire performance.
“She has worked so hard since she was a little girl,” said sister Madalyn. “She’s just dedicated and she has always had that drive to go to the Olympics and wanted it really bad.”
The Smiths say while Rebecca was on the bus following her victory – she was able to Facetime with them.
Ecstatic about the victory, her parents Sandi and Scott say they are very proud.
“It’s very emotional but very exciting for her,” said Scott. “(We are) super proud of her, and very thankful to everyone. They talk about, ‘it takes a village’ and family, a lot of support and a lot of encouragement.”
The Smiths say it’s disappointing not to celebrate alongside Rebecca, but are excited to see her medal when she arrives home.
“Over a year ago, we were planning on going, we had time booked off, we were doing our research to go,” said Sandi. “But being home, definitely was a little bit different.”
Rebecca began swimming at the Roland Michener Recreation Centre when she was younger.
Mandi Smith, who is not related, coached Rebecca from seven years old until she was 16 at the Red Deer Catalina Swim Club.
Smith says this win showcases Red Deer on the world stage and says she is proud to play a part in Rebecca’s journey.
“Seeing that big smile, its one of those smiles that I have seen for years and years,” said Smith.
“As a little age grouper, as she came up and through and how she was selected to junior teams, provincial teams and national teams.”
Rebecca will compete again on Wednesday in the 4x200m relay.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
BREAKING New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial
New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
First in Canada procedure performed at London, Ont. hospital
A London man has become the first person in Canada to receive a robotic assisted surgery on his spine. Dave Myeh suffered from debilitating, chronic back pain that led to sciatica in his right now and extreme pain in his lower back.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.