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Topic: Podcast - November 26 2025
Episode #129: Lizzi Smith on Confidence, Visibility, and Swimming with One Hand

Three-time Paralympian swimmer Lizzi Smith was born with amniotic band syndrome, which resulted in her losing her left hand. She spent years trying to make that part of herself invisible, but through swimming, the pool became the one place where she wasn't afraid to be seen. Lizzi encourages us to build confidence through adversity, and to find strength in the parts of ourselves we’re tempted to try and hide. She shares honest reflections on the heartbreak that comes with chasing Olympic dreams and the courage required to show up as a woman athlete with a disability, and reminds us how essential owning your space and finding your voice is — especially when everything inside you wants to shrink.

By Evie Mason

VIS Creator

Lizzi Smith

VIS Mentor

Topic: Podcast

November 26 2025

Lizzi Podcast Cover portrait

Transcript

Stef: [00:00:00] Welcome to The Voice and Sport Podcast. Today we are joined by Lizzie Smith, a three time Paralympic swimmer, three time medalist LA hopeful, and of course a voice and sport mentor who currently lives and trains in Austin, Texas. She was born in Muncie, Indiana to a family of eight children, and she began to swim at just seven years old.

She developed amniotic ...

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