Gabriella Smith, known as Gaby, started learn-to-swim lessons as a baby in Melville, Perth, and has loved the water ever since.

After moving to New Zealand in 2014, she began competitive swimming through Parafed Canterbury and Wharenui Swim Club. Watching older swimmers as a child, she thought racing looked fun and decided to try it.

Since her first taste of racing as an 11-year-old, Smith has risen through the ranks, emerging as one of New Zealand's exciting young talents in the pool.

Under the tutelage of coach Matt Houston, Smith was first selected to represent New Zealand in 2022 at the Para Swimming World Series in Indianapolis. At 15 years old, Smith impressed by winning bronze in the 100m breaststroke on her international debut.

Just a couple of months later, Smith debuted as Aquablack #274 at the 2022 Para Swimming World Championships in Madeira, celebrating her 16th birthday during the competition. Taking on a busy event programme, Smith impressed with multiple finals appearances at the championships, including a fifth-place finish in the S10 400m freestyle.

Later that same year, Smith joined coach Todd Mason at Vikings Swim Club.

Smith started 2023 in style, claiming gold in the 400m freestyle at the Melbourne leg of the 2023 Para Swimming World Series. Competing at her second meet of the series in Singapore, Smith topped the podium again in the 400m freestyle. She was also part of the silver medal-winning New Zealand mixed relay teams in the 4x100m medley (34 points) and 4x100m freestyle (34 points) events.

Smith had another strong showing in Manchester at the 2023 Para Swimming World Championships, highlighted by a seventh place finish in the SB9 100m breaststroke.

At 18 years old, Smith made her Paralympic Games debut at Paris 2024. Taking on three events at the Games, Smith impressed on debut by making finals in the SB9 100m breaststroke and SM10 200m individual medley – placing seventh and eighth, respectively, and notching a personal best time in the latter event. She also swam the S10 400m freestyle where she finished in 12th place.

In 2025, Smith made the move over to Australia to study and train at the University of Queensland.

Favourite motto: "Control the controllable".