As a physician, he gained public prominence in 2011 for his research and campaigning which were instrumental in uncovering the harmful side effects of bone morphogenetic protein 2 therapy.

Since 1994, as a member of HVK Gusar rowing club, he competed in the coxed pairs with Damir Vučičić, winning world junior silver medal in 1995.

In 1998 Smoljanović won silver in the coxed fours in the World University Rowing Championships, teamed with Vučičić, Nikša Skelin and Oliver Martinov.

[1] Smoljanović moved from HVK Gusar to Zagreb-based HAVK Mladost rowing club in 1999, after enrolling in the School of Medicine, University of Zagreb.

[4] In the 2001 World Rowing Championships in Lucerne, Smoljanović was a member of a slightly changed national eights team – with Oliver Martinov and Damir Vučičić instead of Franković and Francetić – which won a silver medal.