Bill Smith Jr.’s Life Membership in the Outrigger Canoe Club was announced at a banquet in his honor on February 26, 1945. Smith was the world’s greatest middle distance swimmer at the time and holder of numerous world records. By 1948 he had already won 15 U.S. National Championships, eight NCAA titles, six AAU indoor and one AAU outdoor title, held 18 American records and seven world records. At Ohio State University he was undefeated in three years of dual meet competition and was a four-time All American.
In 1948 Bill was elected captain of the U.S. Olympic team and went on to win gold medals in the 400-meter Freestyle and the 4×200 Meter Relay. The relay team set a world record of 8:46.0.
His world records were:
200-Meters Freestyle, 2:06:2, Columbus, Ohio, 2/12/1944
220 Yards Freestyle, 2:07.7, Honolulu, TH, 5/15/1941
220 Yards Freestyle, 2:07.1, Columbus, Ohio, 2/12/1944
400 Meters Freestyle, 4:38.5, Honolulu, TH, 4/16/1941
400-Meters Freestyle, 4:41.0, London, (Olympic record)
440 Yards Freestyle, 4:38.5, Honolulu TH, 5/13/1941
880 Yards Freestyle, 9:54.6, New London, Conn, 8/10/1942
800 Meter Freestyle, 9:50.9, Honolulu TH, 7/24/1941
400 Yards Freestyle Relay (4×100) Great Lakes Naval Training Center (anchor leg), 3:24.5, Columbus, Ohio, 2/12/1944
800 Meter Freestyle Relay 8:46 .0, U.S. (anchor) London, August 3, 1948
*World records provided by ISHOF 2019
He also held a number of other world records for odd distances.