Canada Day 2012 will always be a special date for us at Canada Basketball:  that’s the day our Senior Women’s National Team secured a berth at the London Olympic Games. This series of Q&A’s with our national team players helps you get to know the inspiring women who are part of that team that will represent Canada proudly in London.  

Hometown: Mission, British Columbia

High School: Heritage Park Secondary School

University:University of Utah

Years with Canada Basketball: 10

Games with Canada Basketball: 124

Canada Basketball - What is your favorite Olympic memory?

Kim Smith - The last Winter Olympics in Vancouver.  It was my home province and I was able to go home and enjoy it for a week.  I walked the city, attended a couple of events and got to witness it all.  The spirit in the country was amazing!  I have never seen so many Canadian flags in my life.  It didn't make it hard to dream big about London.  

CB - Which team are you most looking forward to playing against in London?

KS - I guess Russia because it is our first game.  I don't care who we play, I just can't wait to start the games!

CB - What do you think the biggest challenge will be for you and the team at these games?  

KS - I will be interested to see how we handle the world stage.  We have played in big events before - World Championships, Pan Am Games, etc. - but we have never experienced the distractions that come along with the Olympics.  In the past week, I have had more media requests, Facebook friend requests and ticket requests than I have had in my previous 10 years with the national team.  

CB - Do you have any pregame rituals? What are they?

KS - I always shower right before we leave for the game.  If I feel tired I take a freezing cold shower to wake myself up.  Other than that not very superstitious and warm ups are annoying, I just want to start playing the game.  

CB - Who is the teammate that you are most excited to see take the floor for the first Olympic game?  Why?

KS - Shona Thorburn.  Shona and I got matching Canada Basketball tattoos in college prior to the 2004 Athens Olympics.  We were really confident we were going to make it but it didn't happen.  It has been a long 8 years.  Also excited to see Chelsea play in London.  We have been in the program together for a decade.  It’s great to see good things happen to great people.  

CB - What advice would you give to young athletes who are pursuing an Olympic dream?

KS - Be relentless.  Olympic dreams are hard.   It took me countless failures and heartbreaks to go along with multiple injuries.  Know that you will have to put in a lot of work and make a lot of sacrifices.  In the end, Olympic bound or not, you want to be able to say you gave it everything you could, no regrets.

CB - Tell us something special or unique about yourself that we might not know.  

KS - As a child I dreamed of growing up to be a whale trainer.   One trip to the Vancouver aquarium as a 6 year old instilled it.  Glad I didn't pursue it the way I did basketball.  I can't picture it being more exciting than this.  

To read other, "Getting to Know Our Olympians," click the athletes names below:

Teresa Gabriele
Natalie Achonwa
Alisha Tatham
Michelle Plouffe
Chelsea Aubry
Tamara Tatham
Shona Thorburn
Lizanne Murphy
Miranda Ayim
Courtnay Pilypaitis
Krista Phillips  

Below is the Canadian preliminary schedule, with the broadcast information.

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