Ten Olympic medals across four consecutive Games define the competitive career of Pittsburgh-born swimmer Allison Rodgers Schmitt. Since her international debut in 2008, she has secured twenty-five major international medals, establishing a presence in freestyle events that spanned from the Beijing pool to her final appearances in the delayed Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics.
Early Development and Training
Born in 1990 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Schmitt grew up in Canton, Michigan. She began swimming at age eight, eventually training with the Ann Arbor Swim Club before joining Club Wolverine on the University of Michigan campus. In 2008, after graduating from Canton High School, she moved to Baltimore to train full-time under coach Bob Bowman alongside Michael Phelps, a move that coincided with her first Olympic qualification.
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Schmitt’s first Olympic medal, a bronze in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay, came during the 2008 Beijing Games. Her performance peaked at the 2012 London Olympics, where she collected five medals. These included three gold medals: the 200-meter freestyle, where she established a new Olympic record; the 4×200-meter freestyle relay; and the 4×100-meter medley relay, which featured a new world record. She also secured silver in the 400-meter freestyle and bronze in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay.
Collegiate Success and Leadership
At the University of Georgia, Schmitt competed for the Georgia Bulldogs under coach Jack Bauerle. She became a four-time National Collegiate Athletic Association champion, winning the 500-yard freestyle in 2009, 2010, and 2011, and the 200-yard freestyle in 2010. In 2013, she received the Honda Sports Award for Swimming and Diving. Beyond her individual achievements, she served as captain of the United States Olympic swim team in both 2016 and 2020.
Later Competition
During the 2016 Summer Olympics, Schmitt earned a gold medal in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay and a silver in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay. At the 2020 Olympics, she added to her medal tally with a bronze in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay and a silver in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay. Her career total of twenty-five major international medals includes thirteen gold, nine silver, and three bronze across the Pan American Games, Pan Pacific Championships, FINA World Championships, and the Olympics.
Fast facts
- Born: 1990, Pittsburgh
- Olympic medals: 10
- Total international medals: 25
- Education: University of Georgia
- Key award: Honda Sports Award for Swimming & Diving (2013)
- Olympic debut: 2008 Summer Olympics
Questions readers ask
How many Olympic medals did Allison Schmitt win in 2012?
She won five medals in London, consisting of three gold, one silver, and one bronze.
Did Schmitt serve as an Olympic team captain?
Yes, she served as captain of the US Olympic swim team in both 2016 and 2020.
Achievements
- Competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics
- Competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics