Carrie's Story
Fremantle-born Carrie Smith took up sailing at just two-years-old after her father, and his family, introduced her to the sport. She started in the sabre and other junior categories before moving onto the 420 and then finally the 470 which she made her Olympic debut in at the Rio 2016 Games.
It’s was a rollercoaster two years for Smith before her debut. She was rushed to hospital with complications from stomach surgery in 2014, one of four operations she endured in the year, before being forced to take around six months off from the sport.
Ryan and Smith, coached by Beijing 2008 Olympic gold medallist Nathan Wilmot, finished the 2015 World Championships regatta in ninth to secure a quota spot for Australia for Rio.
At the Games they had an overall result of 15th, finishing outside the top 10 which went through to the medal race.
