When all was said and done, Kelowna's Kierra Smith was seventh best in the world.

With a swim of 2:23.19, the 22-year-old from Kelowna finished seventh overall Thursday night in the women's 200-metre breaststroke in Rio.

Her time was 91/100 shy of the bronze medal position.

Smith advanced to the final thanks to Wednesday night's swim of 2.22.87, the second best time of her career.

Despite reaching the final in her first Olympic Games, the 2015 Pan American Games gold medalist had hoped for a better result.

"I don't know if I made that much progress from last year at this time," Smith told CBC. "I went the same time in the semis and about the same time in the final, but I've been taking it seriously for so long. I tried my best, I tried to progress but I just didn't get there."

Smith, a graduate of Immaculata Regional High School, is a member of both the Liquid Lightning Swim Club and the University of Minnesota Gophers swim team.