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Allison SCHMITT
Sport Swimming
NOC United States   
GenderWomen
Born07 Jun 1990 in Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Height1.86 m
 Human Interest 
Further Personal Information
Higher education
Psychology - University of Georgia: Athens, GA, USA
General Interest
Famous relatives
Her older brother Derek swam for Ohio University and the University of Pittsburgh in the United States of America. Her younger sisters, twins Kari and Sara, played ice hockey at Ohio State University. (usaswimming.org, 10 Aug 2016)
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport?
After failing to make her middle school's football team, she decided to follow in the footsteps of her sister Kristen and start swimming.
General Interest
Hero / Idol
US swimmer Michael Phelps. (glamour.com, 06 Sep 2011)
Awards and honours
In 2019 she was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in the United States of America. (swimswam.com, 23 May 2019)

She received the Perseverance Award at USA Swimming's 2015 Golden Goggle Awards. (olympics.nbcsports.com, 23 Nov 2015)

During her collegiate career at the University of Georgia, in 2013 she received the Honda Sports Award for swimming from the Collegiate Women Sports Awards [CWSA]. (swimmingworldmagazine.com, 02 May 2013)

In 2008 she was named Michigan State High School Female Athlete of the Year in the United States of America. (usaswimming.org, 12 Jul 2011)

In 2006 and 2007 she was named Michigan High School Swimmer of the Year. (usaswimming.org, 12 Jul 2011)
Sport Specific Information
Name of coach
Bob Bowman [club], USA; Greg Meehan [national], USA
When and where did you begin this sport?
She began swimming at age nine.
Further Personal Information
Occupation
Athlete, Student
General Interest
Nicknames
Schmitty, Al, Allie (zwemza.com, 06 Jul 2018; usaswimming.org, 01 Feb 2020)
Other information
OCCUPATION AIDS SWIMMING
She has worked as a volunteer swim coach and counsellor at Arizona State University as part of her master's degree in social work. "I have enjoyed the experiences and opportunities I've had as a counsellor and in my master's programme, and I think it has helped me both as a person and as a swimmer. I think my job as a swimmer and as a counsellor are completely different. I am definitely looking forward to a career path after swimming, but right now I am focusing on swimming." (si.com, 10 Aug 2021; sportscasting.com, 02 Aug 2021; swimmingworldmagazine.com, 02 Nov 2020, 01 Aug 2019)

CAREER BREAK
After competing at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, she took an extended break from competitive swimming. She thought about retiring but never confirmed her decision and decided to focus on gaining a master's degree in social work. In 2017 she returned to the pool to keep in shape but had no intention of making a competitive comeback. However, she began training full-time in January 2018 and returned to competition that April. "I soon felt young again. Coming back after 18 months to race, have fun and doing it for the joy of it was the ultimate goal as I gained a new perspective for the sport." (zwemza.com, 06 Jul 2018; swimmingworldmagazine.com, 13 Apr 2018; swimswam.com, 13 Apr 2018, 04 Apr 2018)

DEPRESSION
In May 2015 she revealed that she had been experiencing depression since the 2012 Olympic Games in London. "For two years I had a hard time. It's been tough for me. Really tough. It has taken me two years to open up about it. I couldn't talk about it. I just want people to know it is okay to ask for help. You see on social media athletes who put up a smoke screen for what's really going on. I just want to let them know that it's okay not to be okay." (swimswam.com, 18 Sep 2017; health.com, 15 Aug 2016; teamusa.org, 20 May 2015)

MENTAL HEALTH AMBASSADOR
Along with US swimmer Michael Phelps, she was named an honorary chairperson of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA] Health Awareness Day in May 2017. The event focused attention on the needs of children and young adults who have experienced mental health issues. "Successes in the pool are going to fade, but at the end of the day, it is what you can do with that. That platform for me is used for mental health. And I am passionate about that just like the sport of swimming." (swimmingworldmagazine.com, 17 Jun 2021; newsletter.samhsa.gov, 16 May 2017; swimswam.com, 18 Feb 2017)
Further Personal Information
Languages
English
Sport Specific Information
Club / Team
Sun Devil Swimming: Tempe, AZ, USA
General Interest
Hobbies
Scrapbooking, photography, playing outdoor games, playing board games. (usaswimming.org, 01 Feb 2020)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"Swimming is such a small part of life. Yes, I love it. But at the end of the day, it's just a sport. Whether you finish first or last, you're still loved by the same people and you still are who you are." (swimswam.com, 08 Jul 2019)
Most influential person in career
US swimmer Michael Phelps. "Ever since I started training with Bob's [Bowman] group in high school in 2006, at 16, Michael took me under his wing right away. He showed that he believed in me - the greatest Olympian of all time believed in me! I never looked at him like that, but just as a relatable person. That really helped me get through those times and get to the highest level." (people.com, 24 Jul 2021; swimmingworldmagazine.com, 02 Nov 2020)
Further Personal Information
Residence
Canton, MI, USA

 Competition Highlights
Olympic Games
Rank Year Venue Event Result
10 2021 Tokyo, JPN 200m Freestyle 1:56.87
3 2021 Tokyo, JPN 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:32.81
2 2021 Tokyo, JPN 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:40.73
1 2016 Rio de Janeiro, BRA 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:43.03
2 2016 Rio de Janeiro, BRA 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay  
2 2012 London, ENG 400m Freestyle 4:01.77 
1 2012 London, ENG 200m Freestyle 1:53.61 
1 2012 London, ENG 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:42.92
1 2012 London, ENG 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:52.05
3 2012 London, ENG 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:34.24
Semifinal 2008 Beijing, CHN 200m Freestyle 1:58.01
3 2008 Beijing, CHN 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:46.33
World Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
Semifinal 2019 Gwangju, KOR 200m Freestyle 1:58.27
2 2019 Gwangju, KOR 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay  
2 2019 Gwangju, KOR 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay  
6 2011 Shanghai, CHN 200m Freestyle 1:56.98
1 2011 Shanghai, CHN 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:46.14
2 2009 Rome, ITA 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:42.56
4 2009 Rome, ITA 400m Freestyle 4:02.51
2 2009 Rome, ITA 200m Freestyle 1:54.96
World Championships Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
Heats 2012 Istanbul, TUR 400m Freestyle 4:05.98
1 2012 Istanbul, TUR 200m Freestyle 1:53.59
1 2012 Istanbul, TUR 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:31.01
1 2012 Istanbul, TUR 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:39.25
World Cup Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
6 2011   Overall  
1 2011 Berlin, GER 200m Freestyle 1:52.08
3 2011 Berlin, GER 200m Butterfly 2:07.20
1 2011 Berlin, GER 400m Freestyle 3:59.71
1 2011 Moscow, RUS 200m Freestyle 1:53.72
2 2011 Moscow, RUS 50m Freestyle 24.74
3 2011 Moscow, RUS 100m Freestyle 53.13
1 2011 Moscow, RUS 400m Freestyle 4:02.23