JACK SMITH: ATTORNEY AND ATHLETE

July 16, 2023

When I learned Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Jack Smith as US Special Counsel to pursue possible criminal charges against former president Trump, the name Jack Smith had no special significance. The media said he was an experienced prosecutor with an impressive history of convictions including many
against war criminals. They all noted that he was tough and relentless. When I saw pictures of him, I was impressed with the look of determination and strength in his face and eyes.

Then one news outlet mentioned in passing that he was also a triathlete. This made me curious to find out more about this important man with the steely look. Turns out Smith was born in 1969 in nearby Clay, NY where he attended Liverpool High School. Then he went on to graduate from SUNY Oneonta and Harvard Law School.

In high school and college, he played baseball and basketball. He then became an avid runner and cyclist. He wanted to try triathlons but was a very weak swimmer. In his own words, “I couldn’t even swim the length of the pool.”

In spite of his swimming problem, in 2002 he ventured into the world of competitive sports where he competed in an incredible string of races. He rarely talks about his athletic accomplishments, and it was very difficult to find details even after my research. He has said only that he has done over one hundred triathlons all over the world and nine Ironman Triathlons. The Ironman consists of a 2.4-mile swim, 112 miles on the bike, and a full 26.2-mile marathon. We don’t know how he placed in any of these or his time, but the average time for the Ironman is twelve hours.

Training on the bike can be dangerous and Smith sustained two injuries. The first was a broken leg. The second injury was quite serious: a truck hit him and broke his pelvis, which resulted in an extended period of time for recovery.

Although his athletic history will not, in the long run, be nearly as important as what he is doing now as a prosecutor, I found it interesting that both of those parts of Smith’s life require great determination and strength and seem to have left their impression on his face.
Sam Graceffo, MD