| Leanne Smith | |
| Disability: | Dystonia |
| Disability Class: | S3, SM3 |
| Sport: | Paralympic swimming |
| Birth Date: | 8 May 1988 |
| Birth Place: | Beverly, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Hometown: | Salem, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Show-Medals: | yes |
Leanne Smith (born May 8, 1988) is an American Paralympic swimmer who represented the United States at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.[1]
Smith represented the United States in the women's 100 metre freestyle S3 event and won a silver medal at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.[2]
On April 14, 2022, Smith was named to the roster to represent the United States at the 2022 World Para Swimming Championships.[3] At the World Championships, she won a gold medal in all seven events she participated in, to lead all swimmers in gold medals. Her seven gold medals were the most in a single championships by an American since Jessica Long also won seven gold medals in 2010.[4]
Following the 2022 World Para Championships, she fell ill with a respiratory infection. As a result, she spent several weeks in the hospital with a partially collapsed lung, including time in the intensive care unit. During this time she had to relearn how to eat, speak, swallow and swim.[5] After extensive rehab on April 29, 2023, Smith was named to the roster to represent the United States at the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships. During the event she won a bronze medal in the 200 metre freestyle S3 event.[6]
In 2012 Smith was diagnosed with dystonia, a progressive disease which affects all four of her limbs, her vocal cords and her trunk. She was also diagnosed with lupus.[7] [8]