At the recent annual TYR Pro Championships, Drexel junior Sebastian Smith showed why he belongs on the national stage. Taking on a full slate of long-course sprint events, including the 50 and 100-meter freestyle, as well as the 50 and 100-meter butterfly, Smith held his own against some of the fastest swimmers in the country. The meet, which ran from Aug. 5-8, brought top talent from all over the United States, with prelims starting at 9 a.m. PT and finals at 5 p.m. PT. Smith rose to the challenge and qualified for the finals in every single event he swam.
For Smith, this meet is just the latest step in a career that has been nothing short of impressive. As a sophomore in 2023–24, he struck gold in both the 50 and 100 freestyle and added a silver in the 100 butterfly at the CAA Championships. He also picked up wins in dual meets against Delaware, Towson, Lehigh and Seton Hall, while earning a spot at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, competing in the 100 fly and 50 free. His success in the pool was matched in the classroom, where he landed on the CAA Commissioner’s Academic High Honor Roll.
His freshman year (2022–23) was just as remarkable. Smith finished second in the 100 free at the CAA Championships and broke a program record in the 100 fly (46.83). He helped rewrite the record books in multiple relays, including the 200 and 400 free relays and both the 200 and 400 medley relays. He also claimed individual wins and earned back-to-back CAA Rookie of the Month honors. That breakout season secured him a spot at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, a major milestone for any collegiate swimmer.
From setting program records as a freshman, to bringing home championships as a sophomore and now proving himself against national competition at the TYR Pro meet, Sebastian Smith continues to shine as one of Drexel’s top athletes and someone Dragon fans will want to keep an eye on.