2024 Olympian David Johnston recently announced his transfer from Texas to the University of Florida. The NCAA Champion explained there were 3 big reasons why he chose to leave Austin for Gainesville. One was plain and simple: the money. Johnston acknowledges that he didn’t plan to be competing in the NCAA this long and sees why some would call it unfair.
However, with the rules being what they are and new NIL opportunities sprouting up, Johnston wanted to go somewhere that could offer him income that could potentially supplement his future as he strives to qualify for the 2028 USA Olympic team, and it just so happened that UF was that place.
In this conversation, Johnston is exceedingly honest about the fact that he is doing what is best for his career with this move, not only in the short term but moving toward LA28. In Gainesville, he will be training with arguably the best distance group in the world, swimming alongside Katie Ledecky, Bobby Finke, Ahmed Jaouadi, and Ahmed Hafnaoui, to name a few. He also opens up about dealing with the shoulder injury that sidelined him for the entire 2025-26 NCAA season.
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Honestly, can’t even blame bro. If I was in that position, I would take that opportunity 10/10 times
Hang in there DJ. All the best
So in 6 months he’s to the point where he can swim a 500. With 4 months u til August, how’s he expecting to be 100% ready to go do Nesty workouts with the animals he’s got training in those lanes?…
I think he should just untransfer and go back to texas, because texas is the greatest training group of all time for any swimmer ever.
Matter fact, Hafnaoui and Jaoudi should transfer back to texas with him
I have previously stated that Texas distance isn’t cutting it right now.
also “untransfer” is crazy
Wishing David the best at UF. He is playing within the rules and is in a great environment.
It’s always about the $$$ 😉
bro will be turning TWENTY FIVE this year.
not sure if how many other D1 swimmers that might be that age (although he is working on his 2nd master’s degree) but there are in other sports, and I think this is why they are talking about a 5-year clock (eligibility) starting from HS graduation or age 19 which ever comes first.
if I was 25 and got paid to swim, you best believe I would be present
If I got a free degree to swim I probably would have had the foresight to get it in something reliable that would provide a legitimate career path that would make me more money than a couple of years of college swimming and then a pro career that lays next to nothing.
He’s turning 25…he could have already made some progress in the business, engineering, healthcare or tech world rather than make 70k to swim or whatever he’s getting
If everyone on earth took the career path that maximized short term earnings potential, we’d lose all of the depth to civilization. Also, not everyone can just get a 6 figure tech job when they graduate college.
His grad degree is in Sports Management. His undergrad degree is in “communications & leadership.” If those degrees are indicative of his intended career paths, some experience in the world of NIL and another Olympic appearance are going to be a significant net positive on his lifetime earnings. Even moreso if he goes to LA and wins a medal.
He’s chasing the dream. And he’s not chasing the dream for free. He’s chasing the dream for maybe a little discount on what he’d… Read more »
Bikini photos? Less of a market for similar male photos.
Do you really hate women this much? Yikes.
I just looked at Gretchen Walsh’s TikTok. I see two videos with bikinis.
Lebron James has never posted a picture of himself in a bikini yet he drives a marketing machine that provides roughly double his salary in endorsements.
If you think “women in bikinis” is the only way to market a sport where literally everyone is in a swimsuit, then it says more about you than them.
If David Johnston has degrees in communications, sports leadership, and sports management, he oughta be able to figure out ways to market himself as an athlete without sexualizing himself.
Being a professional contributes nothing to civilization. Every other job I listed does. That’s the line you’re going with? You didn’t even need a tech degree. Something basic like accounting from UT would feed him into a job that would pay 6 figures within 4 years. Swimming at 25 for simply for collegiate NIL money when you’ve never been someone that is capable of getting any sort of real money in the pro world is ridiculous. If he wants to chase the dream I have nothing against it. Taking a spot from a legitimate recruit when you’re 4 years older than the seniors on the team? I’m sorry you’re a straight bum. Move on with your life.
Kinda interesting how different places have developed to be the best place to train for certain things- Florida distance free, TX – IM and maybe middle distance free, ASU sprint free, Cal- backstroke (don’t know if that would still be the case). Indiana breaststroke. These change regularly and you can debate them but it is interesting to see and raises the question of how much is coaching driven and how much results from a few great swimmers in a discipline grouping together and pushing each other.
I think it’s really cool for a school to have an identity. It’s sort of like how Army is always run-heavy football team, Kentucky/Duke always had the most one-and-done players in basketball, and so on.
The men’s side definitely has some clear groupings as you have mentioned. I’d also throw in Georgia for the 2fly. Urlando, Bentz, and Flickinger are a few of the names who come to mind.
and the man himself, Gil Stovall
Pace Clark, Chase Kalisz, Dakota Luther, Jake Magahey, Jay Litherland…
Also legends Mary Descenza and Mark Dylla
Crazy that Jake decided to just pick up the 200 fly as a primary event one day in college and ended up an NCAA A finalist in it.
200 Fly U – 200FU!
I wouldn’t limit Florida to distance free. In the past decade, Florida has developed Olympic gold medalists in the men’s 50,100,800,1500 frees, swept wins in every men’s single freestyle event at the 2021 Olympic Trials, and is the only team in the country to produce medalists in the men’s 400 free, in addition to NCAA champions and record holders in each the 50,100, 500, 1650. They’ve proven they can do it short and long course.
The school with the best IMer’s will always be near the top. They cross pollinate with other events.
With NIL money from schools to athletes, how does that affect international student-athletes?
Used to be that they could not earn money other than on campus jobs.
Last I heard, it’s still a mess but people are finding loopholes for foreign athletes.
There is allegedly a pathway through the talent visa programs where they can still go to school (versus student athletes, which was the traditional pathway for NCAA athletes in the past). I haven’t confirmed anyone using it, but there’s a lawyer speaking very loudly about it (and her services) on LinkedIn.
There are probably also other loopholes. Like sending them their check during the two weeks when they’re home for Trials, that are waiting to be tested in court.