Kimberly A. Smith continues to break records in the United States where she will graduate from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Lifestyle Medicine. Photo: FECOA

Kimberly A. Smith was the first Anegadian and the youngest person to make the Virgin Islands Women's National Football Team at 15. Photo: Provided

Long Jump has been Kimberly A. Smith's discipline for the past four years, she is currently ranked number 2 in the Virgin Islands. Photo: Provided

Kimberly A. Smith credits her accomplishments on and off the field to her relationship with God. Photo: Provided

Kimberly will begin her senior year at the University of Central Florida following her recent signing by the school. Photo: USC

Born in Jamaica, Kimberly A. Smith moved to Anegada with her family at the age of 5. Photo: Provided

Speaking to Virgin Islands News Online (VINO), Kimberly, who was born in Jamaica, came to the VI with her family at just five years old in 2007. 

“I’ve been living in Anegada for most of my life. I was raised here.”

She said her love for sports was identified early, and her mother encouraged her to play all sports- basketball, volleyball, football, tennis and track and field. 

“I could always remember myself outside. Never have on a shirt, never have on shoes, but just running in the road. And I took that same energy all the way from Jamaica here to the British Virgin Islands. I just never stopped running because it's fun to me.”

She eventually moved to Tortola to receive professional training, as there was no track on Anegada. 

I’m the first to do a lot of things

While remaining humble about her accomplishments in sports, Kimberly revealed she has had some major successes. 

“I'm the first to do a lot of things, especially for Anegada itself and in general for the British Virgin Islands.”

In football, at just 15, she became the youngest person to join and make the National Team. In 2019, as the goalkeeper, she proudly represented the VI on the international stage. 

“We went to the World Cup [Qualifiers],” she noted. 

Asked about how she felt being the youngest member of the team at that time, she said, “I never really had fear; I have a passion for sports, I never had fear, I just wanted to be there, I just wanted to have fun. It was just always fun to me that I can just be playful; I can just be a child.”

She is also a three-time national champion in the long jump and a two-time national champion in javelin. 

She was the first Anegadian to win an international medal, which was bronze for javelin.

Transition to Long Jump

Being an athlete who is asthmatic, Kimberly said her coach realised she could not hold her speed for very long and so long jump was the answer. 

“That’s all you need to do in long jump, just hold your speed for a certain amount of time.”

While also participating in hurdles and javelin, long jump has been her discipline for the past four years. 

In track and field, her many accolades include being the VI’s number 2 in her discipline, Long Jump, for both indoor and outdoor. 

Kimberly has been attending college in the United States  (US) and has since gone on to hold records there in long jump. 

“I've been to three different colleges…Division two, Washburn University. I have a facility record of 6.08 meters… I transferred to Eastern Washington, where I was able to break the indoor record of 6.25 meters (personal best indoors). And I also broke the outdoor record with 6.27, which is my personal best.”

Not just a sportswoman

This young, talented athlete is not just all about sports; she is also an academic, etching her name into American history, and an entrepreneur.  

“I’m an all-academic student, meaning that I'm top 100 in my grades and my discipline, which is long jump. Top 100 in the United States, division one, which is very hard to do in academics and my discipline.” She has attended three colleges in the states, among them are Washburn University in Kansas City and Eastern Washington University. 

The University of Central Florida just signed her to their track and field team, her third college in the US, for her final year, where she will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Lifestyle Medicine. 

While she admits being away from the VI and her family has been the hardest part about going to school in the US, she said, knowing they love, care and are in her corner keeps her going. 

“I just want my family to be proud of me.”

At 16, Kimberly started her own business on Anegada, where she would collect the garbage and sell ice to the sailboats. She also works with children as a coach and youth leader. 

An ambassador for Christ

Kimberly was sure to say she adopted Philippians 4:13 as her motto: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

She said that placing God at the forefront of her life, having a very strong relationship with Him, has been the driving force behind her successes on and off the field, crediting all her accomplishments to Him. 

“For me, with Him, life is slowed down for me, so I get to focus on every little detail of my life. But without Him, everything is just going fast for me.”

Continuing with her entrepreneurial endeavours, she sells t-shirts promoting Christ. 

As for her future, Kimberly said she will be doing the Lord’s work. “Wherever He sends me…I would continue to do the Lord's work, inspire [people], and use my talent to distribute the word of God.”

She also encouraged others to always put God first. 

Kimberly hopes to see a future in the VI where an investment is made in the children. “The children are the future, so invest in the children. They are the light.”