Mel Smith
Swim Across America – Seattle
Age: 80
Years supporting Swim Across America: 15
This year, Swim Across America – Seattle is celebrating 15 years of impact. In that time, the charity swim has raised over $4.5 million for its beneficiary, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, and has made a remarkable impact on its community.
One swimmer, 80-year-old Mel Smith, has been there from the beginning, and is proud to have participated in the swim every year.
“While I’ve been involved with Swim Across America – Seattle for 15 years, this is actually my 14th year swimming for the cause, as COVID sidelined the actual open water event a few years ago,” noted Mel.
Mel swims with the team “Y-Naught” and over the years, he has raised nearly $36,000 to support SAA-Seattle. Mel and his teammates typically swim the 2-mile course at the open water event.
Mel grew up in Michigan and swam with his Cooley High School swim team, then swam competitively all four years at Albion College, holding the record in the 500 and 200 freestyle.
After college, he moved to Illinois and was the swim coach at two different high schools before moving to Olympia, Washington, in 2005, where he became the Olympia High School swim coach. Mel also coached at the Briggs YMCA and just retired from that position on August 25, 2023. He coached swimming for a total of 43 years! In addition, Mel has been a member of the Masters swim program at his local Y.
“I swim with team Y-Naught, made up of swimmers from my Masters swim program at our local Biggs YMCA. This year, I am swimming a half-mile in honor of survivors Laura Beth Whyte, Michael Smith and Carolyn Prouty, and in memory of Karen Russell.”
Mel and his team have become a staple at the SAA-Seattle event and the local committee look forward to seeing them every year.
“Mel exemplifies the dedication and passion so many of our swimmers have for making waves to fight cancer,” noted David Day, SAA-Seattle co-event director.
“To have Mel with us for all 15 years we’ve been swimming in Seattle is really amazing! He has been an important part of Swim Across America and we love having him back year-after-year.”
This year, Mel will be swimming his distance in the local pool but will be on-site cheering on his team and the hundreds of participants that come out each year.
If you are moved to support Mel Smith, you can donate here.
Swim Across America has raised $100 million since its inception in 1987 to support cancer research and clinical trials across the U.S. Please contact Jeni Howard at jhoward@jhowardpr.com for media inquiries.
Swim Across America 
Mel — congratulations on an impressive swimming and fundraising record! Regrets I haven’t swum with Y-Naughts in the last couple years, and now I’m facing potential left shoulder surgery. Keep on swimmin’!
Steve Peterson