GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida males’s swim & dive welcome David Johnston to the 2026-27 roster, head coach
Anthony Nesty introduced on Tuesday.
Johnston was a part of the 2021 and 2025 NCAA National Championship and 2022 runner-up groups at Texas. He is an eight-time All-American and was a member of the Longhorns Big 12 Team Championship groups from 2021-23. Individually, he gained three-straight 1,650 free Big 12 titles from 2021-23, whereas including a 500 free title in 2023. This previous season, the Dallas, Texas native solely competed in a single twin meet earlier than lacking the rest of the season resulting from a shoulder harm.
“David brings a championship mindset and proven experience at the highest levels of swimming,” Nesty mentioned. “We’re thrilled to welcome him to Florida and excited to support his continued development as both an athlete and a person. We can’t wait to see all that he will accomplish as a Gator.”
At the worldwide degree, Johnston took an Olympic redshirt throughout the 2023-24 season earlier than incomes a spot on the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team within the 1500 free, alongside Gator alum Bobby Finke. He made his first USA Swimming roster on the 2023 U.S. National Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, competing within the 400 free. He was later named to the 2024 U.S. World Championship workforce, competing within the 400 free, 800 free, and 400 IM, and incomes a bronze medal as a part of the 4×200 freestyle relay workforce.
Johnston joins the Gators’ 2026-27 incoming class that features incoming freshman Santiago Alzate, Zoltan Bagi, Tai Pearson and Liam Smith.
Why Johnston selected the University of Florida: “I chose Florida because of the opportunity to train with multiple world class distance swimmers under Coach Nesty, Whitney and the staff. Additionally, staying in college gives me an opportunity to be funded financially for another year and pursue a second graduate degree. I have respected the Florida program for many years and am honored to be given the chance to become a Gator.”
David Johnston - Hometown: Dallas, Texas
- Specialty: Freestyle/IM
- Former School: University of Texas
- Graduated spring 2023 with an undergraduate diploma in Communication and Leadership
- Instagram: @davidjohnston14
Career Bio
Accolades
- 2021 NCAA National Championship Team
- NCAA National Runner-up Team (2022)
- Eight-time All-American
- 500 free (2022, 2023)
- 1650 free (2021, 2022, 2023)
- 400 IM (2021, 2022, 2023)
- Three-time Big 12 Team Champion (2021, 2022, 2023)
- Four-time Big 12 Champion
- 500 free (2023)
- 1650 free (2021, 2022, 2023)
- Big 12 Newcomer of the Week (Jan. 27, 2021)
- Three-time CSCAA Scholar All-American First Team (2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23)
- Two-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team (2021-22, 2022-23)
- Six-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023)
AS A SENIOR (2024-25)
- Won the 1000 free with a time of 8:44.94, runner-up within the 200 IM (1:48.07) and was fifth within the 200 breast (2:00.42) within the win towards SMU
- Won the 1000 free towards Georgia with a time of 8:41.09 and was third within the 500 free in 4:14.45
- Posted three second-place finishes on the Texas Invitational within the 500 free (4:09.41, NCAA-A), the 1650 free (14:35.42, NCAA-A) and the 400 IM (3:39.55)
- Swam the second-fastest 1000 free time in UT historical past within the win towards Indiana with a time of 8:39.25, was the runner-up within the 400 IM at 3:43.81 and the runner-up within the 500 free (4:12.45)
- Returned to competitors for UT swimming the 1000 free in 8:50.32 and the five hundred free in 4:18.89 at LSU
AS A JUNIOR (2022-23)
- Won silver within the 500 free (4:08.79), positioned fourth within the 1650 free (14:35.51) and took eighth within the 400 IM (3:40.10) on the NCAA Championships
- Won gold within the 500 free (4:12.82) and 1650 free (14:37.30) and silver within the 400 IM (3:40.03) on the Big 12 Championships
- Took third within the 200 IM (1:46.38) and 200 fly (1:46.53) and fourth within the 200 beast (1:58.88) towards SMU
- Won the 1000 free (8:41.62), positioned second within the 500 free (4:14.41) and seventh within the 200 free (1:35.10) versus No. 4 NC State
- Teamed with Alek Vilipovic, Jake Foster and Spencer Aurnou-Rhees to position fourth within the 400 free relay (2:55.07/43.64 break up) versus No. 4 NC State
- Won the five hundred free (4:18.49), took second within the 1000 free (8:50.54) and fourth within the 200 IM (1:48.09) towards No. 13 Ohio State and No. 14 Alabama
- Joined Spencer Aurnou-Rhees, Jake Foster and Coby Carrozza to position fourth within the 400 free relay (2:58.37/44.25 break up) towards No. 13 Ohio State and No. 14 Alabama
- Finished second within the 500 free on the Minnesota Invitational within the A last with a time of 4:10.95 (NCAA An ordinary)
- Swam the 200 breast in 2:00.14 towards Virginia and completed third within the 200 free with a time of 1:35.71
- Won the five hundred free in 4:15.54 (NCAA-B) and the 1000 free with a time of 8:46.06 towards Virginia
- Teamed with Kobe Ndebele, Coby Carrozza and Alek Filipovic within the 400 free relay to complete fourth at 2:59.07 towards Indiana and Texas A&M
- Won the five hundred free with an NCAA B-cut time of 4:18.73 towards Indiana and Texas A&M and gained the 1000 free in 8:51.24
- Finished third in each the 200 fly (1:46.51) and the 200 again (1:46.00) and second within the 200 IM at 1:47.06.
AS A SOPHOMORE (2021-22)
- Took fifth within the 1650 free (14:33.61), sixth within the 500 free (4:11.57) and seventh within the 400 IM (3:40.05) on the NCAA Championships
- Won gold within the 1650 free (14:45.84) and bronze within the 500 free (4:14.99) and 400 IM (3:43.61) on the Big 12 Championships
- Placed second within the 1000 free (8:43.96) and ninth within the 200 again (1:47.61) at SMU
- Finished second within the 1000 free (8:48.28) and fifth within the 200 IM (1:49.03) towards TCU
- Took fifth within the 1650 free (14:50.33), sixth within the 400 IM (3:45.05) and twelfth within the 500 free (4:16.96) on the Minnesota Invitational
- Teamed with Cameron Auchinachie, Luke Hobson and Caspar Corbeau to position third within the 800 free relay (6:11.72) on the Minnesota Invitational
- Won the 1000 free (9:01.85) and 500 free (4:22.41) and positioned third within the 400 IM (3:48.35) at No. 16 Texas A&M
- Won the 1000 free (8:57.37) and 500 free (4:22.50) at No. 9 Virginia
- Placed second within the 1000 free (9:00.88) and 400 IM (3:49.33) and took third within the 200 again (1:49.53) towards Incarnate Word
AS A FRESHMAN (2020-21)
- Placed seventh within the 1650 free (14:40.13) and eighth within the 400 IM (3:43.06), and swam within the prelims of the five hundred free (4:14.36) on the NCAA Championships
- Won gold within the 1650 free (14:48.09), bronze within the 400 IM (3:43.91) and took fourth within the 500 free (4:16.63) on the Big 12 Championships
- Took fifth within the 200 breast (2:02.90) and seventh within the 200 fly (1:47.93) towards SMU
- Won the 1650 free (14:41.46), completed third within the 500 free (4:14.38) and took fourth within the 400 IM (3:43.98) on the Texas Swimming Hall of Fame Invite
- Teamed with Charlie Scheinfeld, Armando Vegas and Ethan Heasley to complete third within the 800 free relay (6:26.49) on the Texas Hall of Fame Swimming Invite
- Finished fourth within the 200 again (1:48.31), sixth within the 200 breast (2:05.03) and seventh within the 200 IM (1:51.29) towards Texas A&M
- Won the 1650 free (14:47.75) on the First Chance Invite
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