Jeff Smoke

Hometown : Buchanan, MI
Birthdate : 12/03/1977
Height : 6’3”
Weight : 200lbs
Workout Song : The sound of his paddle

Jeff Smoke has a family history in kayaking. His mother and Oklahoma City native, Marcia Smoke, won a bronze medal in the K-1 500m event at the 1964 Olympics. She also finished 4th in 1968 and 9th in 1972. Smoke’s father, Bill Smoke, was a member of the 1964 Olympic Team, and his aunt paddled on the 1968 and 1972 teams. Jeff’s sister, Jennifer, finished 10th in the 1996 Olympic Trials.

In 1988, he won the Ironkids National Championship as a ten-year-old. Over the next few years, he competed in more than 30 triathlons, and won his age group in most of them, including a 2nd place finish at the Triathlon Junior Olympics in Roswell, NM.

He started kayaking in 2001 and competed in the 2001 National Championships. His performance at the National Championships earned him the opportunity to train at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA. At that point, he started training fulltime in pursuit of his Olympic dream.

In 2004, he qualified for and competed in his first Olympic Games. Smoke won the Olympic Trials in the K-1 1000m in 2005. In 2006, Smoke was ranked 10th in World Cup standing where he did his best career time in the K-1 1000m. After the first experience, he is on a mission to qualify for Beijing and medal there.

Paddling at full power over long distances seems to come naturally for this natural athlete. Smoke earned a degree in Business from Notre Dame. He enjoys following the stock market, mountain biking, triathlons and skeet shooting.