![Ridgefield Olympian Takes Home Bronze, First for Team USA in 9 Years](https://townsquare.media/site/678/files/2021/07/attachment-GettyImages-1330463189-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Ridgefield Olympian Takes Home Bronze, First for Team USA in 9 Years
It's been a series of ups and downs so far at the Tokyo Olympics for Ridgefield swimmer Kieran Smith.
We told you last week about the journey of Kieran Smith of Ridgefield and how he qualified to be a part of Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics. Now it's showtime and Kieran finished up his individual Olympic competition Monday night, but the outcome in the men's 200 meter freestyle final was somewhat disappointing for the swimming standout.
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Kieran finished in sixth place for Team USA with a time of 1 minute, 45.12 seconds. It may have been a disappointment for Smith, but he is bringing home a Bronze Medal to Connecticut.
According to ctinsider.com, the 21-year-old took home the bronze in the men's 400 meter freestyle final on Saturday. He finished the race with a personal best time of 3 minutes, 43.94. His bronze medal is the first for Team USA since they took bronze at the 2012 London Olympics and just the fifth medal in the event since the 1988 Seoul games.
Smith commented on the bronze win and told usaswimming.org that "it was a great race and I sprinted my butt off the last 50 meters, it was like I was a 50 freestyler and it paid off."
Smith, who is a Ridgefield High School graduate and swimming standout for the school, now swims for the University of Florida and this year qualified for the Olympics for the first time.
Ridgefield has a history of sending swimmers to the Olympics. Kieran is the second Ridgefield High School alumni to qualify. Back in 1988 Janel Jorgensen won two gold medals at the PAN American games and was part of the U.S. contingent at the Seoul Olympics.
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