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Sports

Despite Move Indoors, Smoliga's Olympic Trials Sendoff Goes Swimmingly

A threat of rain shifted an outdoor ceremony to Park Center. Nearly 150 supporters came to cheer on Glenview's favorite star swimmer, Glenbrook South senior Olivia Smoliga, before she heads to Omaha.

’s special sendoff to the Olympic Trials (which start in Omaha June 26) may have been moved indoors Saturday after a threat of rain, but that certainly didn't dampen the celebration. 

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Instead, it gave the effervescent Smoliga a chance to work a room at the Park Center, which replaced the original venue at the Gallery Park Amphitheater. At 16, she glided from person to person like an experienced hostess, burying any nervousness she might have felt at Public Relations 101.

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“Right now having to publicly speak is pretty nerve-wracking,” Smoliga told Patch a few days before the event, attended by some 150 supporters.

But she handled her part a lot better than many rambling Academy Award recipients. Smoliga delivered a short and sweet ad-lib thank-you to a room full of well-wishers that fully displayed her enthusiastic personality.

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At 6-foot-2, Smoliga is tall and angular with long blonde hair. She looks every bit the three-time state championship swimmer with a trio of state records. 

“This sendoff is so cool,” Smoliga said. “The support I have behind me pushed me to do so much better. Having such a big crowd behind you to do your best, and represent Glenview so well, makes you do better. Having familiar faces at Omaha will be so comforting.”

Smoliga received a messages of support from the Village President Kerry Cummings, the Park District and Glenbrook South.

Proudest spectators were parents Elizabeth and Thomas Smoliga.

“To me this is unreal,” Elizabeth Smoliga shared with Patch. “It seems like the whole community is involved. She is getting used to attention. She doesn’t want to disappoint everyone else. She’s confident, she’s training hard, she feels stronger.”

Park Board members Bill Casey and Charlie Kuhn, and Glenbrook South principal Brian Wegley were also in the house. The crowd was entertained by the Glenbrook South quintet Mungo – Cole Hamilton, Janna Lyhus, Chris Neuhaus, Izzy Fradin and Daniel Landgren.

Most fun was had by her Glenbrook South and Glenview Titan Aquatic Club teammates, who shared a video tribute as Smoliga sat with them. Coaches Steve Iida and Kelly Timson also lauded their prize athlete, with Iida proudly sharing that Smoliga “is like a daughter to me.”

Smoliga will compete in the 100-meter backstroke and 50- and 100-meter freestyle at the Olympic Trials starting June 26 in Omaha. 

“It’s a great situation to be in,” said Iida. “She’s under the radar.”

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