Far Westerns Champ Olivia Kim Gives Verbal Commitment to Columbia Class of 2026

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Olivia Kim from Pleasanton, California had announced her verbal commitment to the application process* at Columbia University. She will head to New York City in the fall of 2022 where she will join future classmate Grace Dunn.

“I am extremely blessed and ecstatic to announce my verbal commitment to the application process at Columbia University!!! I chose Columbia University not only because it is an honor to attend my dream school in New York City, but also because it is such a prestigious institution which offers both a world-class education to advance my academic growth, along with an incredible opportunity to further my swimming career at the next level! I am truly fortunate to be surrounded by such passionate and goal-driven people who make me a better person in and out of the pool every day, so I’d like to start off by thanking my parents for their unconditional love and support, all of my coaches for their wisdom and patience, especially Coach Steve Morsilli for teaching me some of the most valuable life lessons I have ever learned, my teammates who have undeniably become my family and second home, and my friends for their unwavering loyalty. Words cannot express how appreciative I am of all the support I have received from Coach Diana and Coach Matt throughout the recruiting process! Their constant positivity, advice, and communication solidified my desire to attend Columbia University. I can’t wait to become a Lion and join Coach Diana, Coach Matt, and my future teammates for the next chapter of my life! GO LIONS!!🦁 #classof2026 #RoarLionRoar”

A junior at Amador Valley High School, Kim swims for her high school and for the club team Pleasanton Seahawks. Because of COVID-19, the only high school swimming she has been able to do was as a freshman. At the 2019 CIF-North Coast Section Championships, she placed 11th in the 200 free (1:55.06) and 9th in the 500 free (5:02.04) with what were, at the time, lifetime bests. She then went on to the CIF State Championships and notched a new PB in the 500 free (4:58.84) in prelims before finishing 15th in the final.

That summer, she won the girls 15-16 400 free and 1500 free at 2019 Far Westerns. She was runner-up in the 200 free and 800 free and she came in 6th in the 100 free. She was on the Pleasanton Seahawks squad as a relay swimmer for the 2019 Phillips 66 Summer National and Speedo Junior National Championships.

Kim kicked off 2020 with best times in the SCY 200 back, 100/200 breast, and 200 IM before the pools shut down, and she logged a new PB in the 1000 free in March 2021 at a PLS dual meet against TERA.

Best SCY times

• 200 Free – 1:54.98
• 500 Free – 4:58.84
• 1000 Free – 10:18.48
• 1650 Free – 17:17.58
• 200 Fly – 2:10.96

Best LCM times

• 100 Free – 59.53
• 200 Free – 2:07.47
• 400 Free – 4:27.93
• 800 Free – 9:17.35
• 200 Fly – 2:29.33

*Note: A verbal commitment between an Ivy League coach and a prospective student-athlete is not an offer of admission, as only the Admission Office has that authority. The coach can only commit his or her support in the admission process. Ivy League Admission Offices do not issue “Likely Letters” before October 1 of the prospective student-athlete’s senior year of high school. The Likely Letter, while issued after an initial read of the student’s application, is not an offer of admission to the university.

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].

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