Commonwealth Games: Amalie Smith Eyes Senior Debut After Double European Junior Gold
Fresh from securing double gold in continental junior waters, Amalie Smith will make her senior debut at the Commonwealth Games before continuing her summer journey at the European Championships in Paris.
The 16-year-old successfully defended her 400IM title at the European Junior Championships in Munich in early July as well as adding gold in the girls’ 4x100m freestyle relay, silver in the mixed sprint freestyle and bronze in the 4x200m freestyle.
Amalie Smith: Photo Courtesy: European Aquatics/ Derencsényi István
Smith left Germany before she had the chance to defend the 200IM title from Samorin last year to attend the Team England Kitting Out Day ahead of the Commonwealth Games which start in Glasgow later this week.
Munich was the first leg of her summer odyssey and one that buoyed the teenager, especially given she played her part in making history.
Speaking to Swimming World, she said: “It was so much fun to swim there, it was such an enjoyable meet. With the girls’ 4×100 freestyle we got the European junior record which we weren’t expecting at all so that was really fun to come out of the meet with.
“It was such an enjoyable meet and a real confidence booster especially after last year I didn’t really know what to expect from it but coming away with two golds it gave me a lot of confidence in my swimming capability.”
Smith returned to British shores with Theodora Taylor, who joined her Great Britain teammate on the medal-winning relays on top of being crowned 50 free champion.
With Taylor representing Team Wales, the pair will be in unfamiliar territory at Tollcross International Swimming Centre where they’ll be on opposing teams before reuniting for the European Championships which come hot on the heels in Paris.
Smith is acquainted with many swimmers on Team England, saying: “I know most of the team. I’m not really best friends with them but I could easily hold a conversation with them I reckon.”
Eyes On A Glasgow Prize
Smith won the 400IM in Munich in a championship record of 4:35.32, the second-fastest of her career behind her 4:35.18 PB from the AP Race International in May.
That places her fourth among Commonwealth swimmers in the 2026 rankings topped by Summer McIntosh and her 4:28.13 at the Pro Swim Series in Austin in January.
Olympic champion and world record-holder McIntosh won’t be in Glasgow but will instead focus on Pan-Pacs this year. Nor will her Canadian teammate Mary-Sophie Harvey – who stands third in the rankings with 4:34.29 – compete meaning Smith is ranked second fastest among Commonwealth women behind only Jenna Forrester and her 4:31.47 at the Australian trials.
In the 200IM, Smith stands sixth among Commonwealth swimmers who’ll be in Glasgow headed by teammate Abbie Wood who went 2:08.17 at British trials in April.
On paper, Smith is one of a number of women jostling for the podium in both events but she isn’t putting too much pressure on herself.
“Looking at the rankings in general, I’d love to win a medal but if I don’t I won’t be too disappointed because it’s taken so much hard work just to qualify for the Games,” she said. “But I would love to be competitive.”
Triple-Pronged Summer Ends In Paris
Amalie Smith: Photo Courtesy: European Aquatics/ Derencsényi István
The European Championships start less than a fortnight after the Commonwealths finish on 29 July with the pool programme running from 10-16 August in the French capital.
It means a triple-pronged campaign this summer for Smith, the culmination of a goal set with coach Karen Bradbury at the RTW Monson club in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
It is, she says, “crazy” to have qualified for all three competitions this year but she is managing her own expectations and not looking too far ahead.
“I think it’s just taking one thing at a time,” she said. “If I weren’t to perform as well as I did at European juniors and I didn’t have the outcome I wanted, it’s a completely different meet and anything could happen at each one of them. I’m just enjoying it as well.”
As for Glasgow, she said: “It’s going to be really exciting. The atmosphere’s going to be crazy and the whole venue is going to be very exciting to swim in.”
