The International Swimming Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the appointment of Ellie Smart to its esteemed Board of Directors.
With her extensive experience in the world of diving and dedication to the sport, Smart brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the organization.
She has not even turned 30 years old yet, and Smart has been described by a former FINA official as a “great entrepreneur” and “the number one ambassador for the sport of high diving.”
Smart has already gotten more things done for the sport than probably anyone else. Smart began diving when she was just five years old and instantly fell in love with the sport. She dove collegiately at University of California, Berkeley before finding “cliff diving”, also known as high diving.
Smart made her debut on the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series circuit in 2017 and earned a permanent place in the women’s line-up for the 2019 season with a third-place finish at the FINA World Cup. She finished the 2022 season ranked No. 1 in the USA and No. 3 in the world.
Ellie Smart currently represents Team USA internationally and is a permanent diver on the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series while also running her businesses High Dive Global (formerly known as The International High Diving Institute). In 2021, she won the FINA Award in Abu Dhabi, an award presented to athletes who excelled during sporting events in that year. Smart was recognized for her incredible achievements, hard work and dedication to the sport. Also in 2021, Smart created High Dive Global. High Dive Global was founded to develop the sport of high diving by providing training opportunities, hosting events, and creating a community for athletes, coaches, and fans.
Her company supports junior and senior development in addition to technical and freestyle disciplines of high diving. High Dive Global partnered with the Utah Olympic Park to construct the United States’ first high diving training platform. Ellie Smart has been the CEO of High Dive Global since it opened in September of 2021. She and a few others are also working to get the sport of high diving included into the Olympic program, hopefully by 2028.
For the environmentalists, Smart founded the Clean Cliffs Project in 2017. Clean Cliffs started with a simple idea: to do what we love while also leaving a positive impact on the environment. Their mission is to raise awareness about global pollution and promote sustainability through adventure activities. Ellie’s concept is simple, she travels the world and dives in some of the most beautiful locations around the globe. In each location, Smart strives to cultivate a community that cares for the environment by hosting local beach cleanups and educating on the effects of pollution.
Beyond Clean Cliffs, Ellie Smart is adamant about helping communities and people do better and “push their impossible,” for the earth and for themselves. Let’s hear it for Ellie and her team, we’re excited to hear what she comes up with next.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ellie Smart to our Board of Directors,” said Dr. William Kent, Chairman of the Board of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. “Her impressive track record in the diving world and her dedication to promoting the sport align perfectly with our mission. We look forward to working with Ellie to further elevate the International Swimming Hall of Fame and honor the achievements of swimmers and divers around the world.”
As a member of the Board of Directors, Smart will play a key role in shaping the future direction of the International Swimming Hall of Fame and supporting its mission to celebrate the history and achievements of aquatic athletes at all levels. Her insights and leadership will be invaluable as the organization continues to inspire and educate future generations of swimmers.
For more information about the International Swimming Hall of Fame and its Board of Directors, please visit https://ishof.org.
— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with ISHOF. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.