Anabelle Smith

Fast Facts

Sport: Diving
Event: Women's 3m springboard
Olympic History: London 2012, Rio 2016 (bronze), Tokyo 2020
Highlights: 2016 Olympic bronze medal
Coach: Andy Banks
Year Born: 1993
State Born: VIC

About Anabelle

Triple Olympian Anabelle Smith was introduced to the sport of diving at 11-years-old. Growing up as a sporty and athletic kid, Smith always knew she wanted to represent Australia at an Olympic Games.

While at first she was unsure what sport would take her all the way, the challenge and uniqueness of diving kept her inspired and always striving for more. By the age of 14, Smith was spending up to 30 hours a week training in her pursuit of diving excellence. 

After her admission into the Victorian Institute of Sport in 2008, Smith was awarded the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship Award to the first Tier. She received funding for competition and mentoring from Debbie Watson OAM, who’s support she attributed much of her junior success, which includes a Pierre de Coubertin Award and a title as a two-time bronze medallist at the World Junior Championships. 

While completing her final year of high school, Smith was selected to the Australian Diving Team for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. At 17-years-old she made her debut in the 10m synchronised platform alongside Briony Cole, placing third overall, behind the other Australian duo Melissa Wu and Alexandra Croak, and Malaysia’s Pamg and Yee. She also competed in the 3m springboard and 10m platform, placing 4th and 7th overall. 

After partnering with Sharleen Stratton in 2011, the pair won the 2012 nomination trials to secure a berth for Australia in the 3m synchronised diving at the London Olympic Games. At just 19-years-old Smith realised her childhood dream and made her Olympic debut at the 2012 London Games, where she finished in fifth. 

Two years later, Smith made her second Commonwealth team appearance in Glasgow 2014, producing a bronze medal in the 3m synchronised springboard alongside longtime-partner Maddison Keeney

Smith was selected again to represent Australia at Rio 2016 in the 3m synchronised springboard, alongside a 20-year-old Maddison Keeney, making them the youngest competitors in the field. The duo claimed Australia’s fifth medal of the Rio 2016 Games in the 3m synchronised springboard event, finishing on 299.19 points behind China and Italy.   

The Olympic bronze medallist went on to compete at her third Commonwealth Games on home soil in 2018, finishing in third place in the women’s 1m springboard. In 2019, she was second overall in the Diving World Series and was rightfully named Diving Victoria’s Athlete of the Year. 

Smith has served as a member of the Australian Institute of Sport Athlete Advisory Committee and the Olympians Club of Victoria Board, representing fellow athletes and advising for their overall wellbeing. 

At the 2021 Australian Open Championships, which also doubled as Australia’s Olympic qualifying event, Smith proved she was one of Australia’s best talents in diving when she qualified for her third Australian Olympic Team in the Women’s 3m Springboard. 

Her fighting spirit was on display once more in Tokyo as she competed at the Olympics for a third occasion. Smith advanced to the Semi-Final and needed a top 12 finish to make the Final of the Women's 3m Springboard. She ultimately finished the competition in 14^th position.