The former Longhorn joins the Gators for the 2026-27 season.
Gators Add U.S. Olympian David Johnston to Men’s Roster
Tuesday, April 14, 2026 | Men's Swimming & Diving
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida men's swim & dive welcome David Johnston to the 2026-27 roster, head coach Anthony Nesty announced on Tuesday.
Johnston was part of the 2021 and 2025 NCAA National Championship and 2022 runner-up teams at Texas. He is an eight-time All-American and was a member of the Longhorns Big 12 Team Championship teams from 2021-23. Individually, he won three-straight 1,650 free Big 12 titles from 2021-23, while adding a 500 free title in 2023. This past season, the Dallas, Texas native only competed in one dual meet before missing the remainder of the season due to a shoulder injury.
"David brings a championship mindset and proven experience at the highest levels of swimming," Nesty said. "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 international level, Johnston took an Olympic redshirt during the 2023-24 season before earning a spot on the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team in the 1500 free, alongside Gator alum Bobby Finke. He made his first USA Swimming roster at the 2023 U.S. National Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, competing in the 400 free. He was later named to the 2024 U.S. World Championship team, competing in the 400 free, 800 free, and 400 IM, and earning a bronze medal as part of the 4×200 freestyle relay team.
Johnston joins the Gators' 2026-27 incoming class that includes incoming freshman Santiago Alzate, Zoltan Bagi, Tai Pearson and Liam Smith.
Why Johnston chose 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
Accolades
Fans can stay up to date with the Florida Gator swimming & diving teams by following @GatorsSwimDv on X and catch up with the latest news and content of the team. Like the team's Facebook page at Florida Gators Swimming & Diving Fans can also keep up with the team by following them on Instagram at @Gatorsswimdv
Johnston was part of the 2021 and 2025 NCAA National Championship and 2022 runner-up teams at Texas. He is an eight-time All-American and was a member of the Longhorns Big 12 Team Championship teams from 2021-23. Individually, he won three-straight 1,650 free Big 12 titles from 2021-23, while adding a 500 free title in 2023. This past season, the Dallas, Texas native only competed in one dual meet before missing the remainder of the season due to a shoulder injury.
"David brings a championship mindset and proven experience at the highest levels of swimming," Nesty said. "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 international level, Johnston took an Olympic redshirt during the 2023-24 season before earning a spot on the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team in the 1500 free, alongside Gator alum Bobby Finke. He made his first USA Swimming roster at the 2023 U.S. National Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, competing in the 400 free. He was later named to the 2024 U.S. World Championship team, competing in the 400 free, 800 free, and 400 IM, and earning a bronze medal as part of the 4×200 freestyle relay team.
Johnston joins the Gators' 2026-27 incoming class that includes incoming freshman Santiago Alzate, Zoltan Bagi, Tai Pearson and Liam Smith.
Why Johnston chose 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 degree in Communication and Leadership
- Instagram: @davidjohnston14
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)
- Won the 1000 free with a time of 8:44.94, runner-up in the 200 IM (1:48.07) and was fifth in the 200 breast (2:00.42) in the win against SMU
- Won the 1000 free against Georgia with a time of 8:41.09 and was third in the 500 free in 4:14.45
- Posted three second-place finishes at the Texas Invitational in 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 history in the win against Indiana with a time of 8:39.25, was the runner-up in the 400 IM at 3:43.81 and the runner-up in the 500 free (4:12.45)
- Returned to competition for UT swimming the 1000 free in 8:50.32 and the 500 free in 4:18.89 at LSU
- Won silver in the 500 free (4:08.79), placed fourth in the 1650 free (14:35.51) and took eighth in the 400 IM (3:40.10) at the NCAA Championships
- Won gold in the 500 free (4:12.82) and 1650 free (14:37.30) and silver in the 400 IM (3:40.03) at the Big 12 Championships
- Took third in the 200 IM (1:46.38) and 200 fly (1:46.53) and fourth in the 200 beast (1:58.88) against SMU
- Won the 1000 free (8:41.62), placed second in the 500 free (4:14.41) and seventh in the 200 free (1:35.10) versus No. 4 NC State
- Teamed with Alek Vilipovic, Jake Foster and Spencer Aurnou-Rhees to place fourth in the 400 free relay (2:55.07/43.64 split) versus No. 4 NC State
- Won the 500 free (4:18.49), took second in the 1000 free (8:50.54) and fourth in the 200 IM (1:48.09) against No. 13 Ohio State and No. 14 Alabama
- Joined Spencer Aurnou-Rhees, Jake Foster and Coby Carrozza to place fourth in the 400 free relay (2:58.37/44.25 split) against No. 13 Ohio State and No. 14 Alabama
- Finished second in the 500 free at the Minnesota Invitational in the A final with a time of 4:10.95 (NCAA A standard)
- Swam the 200 breast in 2:00.14 against Virginia and finished third in the 200 free with a time of 1:35.71
- Won the 500 free in 4:15.54 (NCAA-B) and the 1000 free with a time of 8:46.06 against Virginia
- Teamed with Kobe Ndebele, Coby Carrozza and Alek Filipovic in the 400 free relay to finish fourth at 2:59.07 against Indiana and Texas A&M
- Won the 500 free with an NCAA B-cut time of 4:18.73 against Indiana and Texas A&M and won the 1000 free in 8:51.24
- Finished third in both the 200 fly (1:46.51) and the 200 back (1:46.00) and second in the 200 IM at 1:47.06.
- Took fifth in the 1650 free (14:33.61), sixth in the 500 free (4:11.57) and seventh in the 400 IM (3:40.05) at the NCAA Championships
- Won gold in the 1650 free (14:45.84) and bronze in the 500 free (4:14.99) and 400 IM (3:43.61) at the Big 12 Championships
- Placed second in the 1000 free (8:43.96) and ninth in the 200 back (1:47.61) at SMU
- Finished second in the 1000 free (8:48.28) and fifth in the 200 IM (1:49.03) against TCU
- Took fifth in the 1650 free (14:50.33), sixth in the 400 IM (3:45.05) and 12th in the 500 free (4:16.96) at the Minnesota Invitational
- Teamed with Cameron Auchinachie, Luke Hobson and Caspar Corbeau to place third in the 800 free relay (6:11.72) at the Minnesota Invitational
- Won the 1000 free (9:01.85) and 500 free (4:22.41) and placed third in 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 in the 1000 free (9:00.88) and 400 IM (3:49.33) and took third in the 200 back (1:49.53) against Incarnate Word
- Placed seventh in the 1650 free (14:40.13) and eighth in the 400 IM (3:43.06), and swam in the prelims of the 500 free (4:14.36) at the NCAA Championships
- Won gold in the 1650 free (14:48.09), bronze in the 400 IM (3:43.91) and took fourth in the 500 free (4:16.63) at the Big 12 Championships
- Took fifth in the 200 breast (2:02.90) and seventh in the 200 fly (1:47.93) against SMU
- Won the 1650 free (14:41.46), finished third in the 500 free (4:14.38) and took fourth in the 400 IM (3:43.98) at the Texas Swimming Hall of Fame Invite
- Teamed with Charlie Scheinfeld, Armando Vegas and Ethan Heasley to finish third in the 800 free relay (6:26.49) at the Texas Hall of Fame Swimming Invite
- Finished fourth in the 200 back (1:48.31), sixth in the 200 breast (2:05.03) and seventh in the 200 IM (1:51.29) against Texas A&M
- Won the 1650 free (14:47.75) at the First Chance Invite
Fans can stay up to date with the Florida Gator swimming & diving teams by following @GatorsSwimDv on X and catch up with the latest news and content of the team. Like the team's Facebook page at Florida Gators Swimming & Diving Fans can also keep up with the team by following them on Instagram at @Gatorsswimdv
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