LST Summer Splash
- April 24-26, 2026
- Lawrence North, Indianapolis, IN
- LCM (50 meters)
- “LST Summer Splash” on Meet Mobile
10-year-old Gabriel Brown, a frequent riser in the 10 & under NAG rankings, has found himself a new spot in the long-course 200 freestyle rankings, climbing to the 5th-fastest performer ever in the age group, swimming a massive lifetime best of 2:14.78.
Brown previously held a best time of 2:16.77, which he clocked at the 2025 ISI Age Group Long-Course Championships.
Boys 10 & Under NAG 200 Free LCM All-Time Performers
- Winn Aung – 2:11.32 (2013)
- Adam Hinshaw – 2:12.18 (2004)
- Ronald Dalmacio – 2:12.45 (2015)
- Ayden Tan – 2:13.03 (2023)
- Gabriel Brown – 2:14.78 (2026)
Through the first four months of the calendar year, Brown has plastered his name all over the 10&Under NAG rankings in a variety of events, particularly in short course.
At the 2026 Mid-States All-Star Championships in January, Brown, an honorable mention for SwimSwam 2025 10 & Under Swimmer of the Year Swammy Award, became the 5th fastest short course 200 freestyler ever for 10 & unders in 1:57.98, 8th in the 200 IM (2:14.48), and 15th in the 100 IM, among several other all-time ranking improvements.
In late March at the Indiana Age Group Championships, he improved on that January short course 200 free, jumping two spots to 3rd all-time in 1:56.93, moved up to 5th in the 200 IM in 2:12.52, and 10th in the 100 back (1:01.12).
In St. Petersburg, just a week before this Summer Splash, Brown races some of his first long-course races of the season, including a lifetime best in the 100 free in 1:03.75, which earned him a tie as the 32nd fastest performer ever in the age group.
In Indianapolis, along with his monumental 200 free, Brown also lowered his lifetime best in the 100 back, from 1:12.09 in July to 1:11.85 at this meet, also resulting in a new spot on the all-time NAG rankings, as he now sits 16th all-time for 10 & unders.
My favorite swimmers to cheer for are the humble ones.
I’ve delayed commenting on this article but the comments here come at a perfect time for me as I prepare to give my annual talk to our club parents. Swim Dad, you have an apparently great kid in Gabriel but what I am observing from the outside is it appears you are doing exactly what I and everyone in the sport advise against – that is putting your dreams and goals for your son onto your son. I may be wrong but your responses to some of the comments plus your Instagram account, along with other factors lead me to that conclusion.
I know a little about this from raising, with my wife, three kids all of whom turned… Read more »
Looking forward to the conversation Joe.
I wish more would see this response. Sadly I don’t think Devon will take it regardless of how it’s presented to him. They pushed him out of his first club in his own backyard and now he’s ruining FAST. So many of us parents are TIRED of it. Joe will get tired of him at some point. It’s just toxic. There is another high level elite swimmer at FAST that has big big dreams and the Dads could not be more opposite.
Sounds like you know how to look me up or find me at a practice when you are ready for a conversation.
This comment is disappointing. To suggest someone is “ruining” the club seems like a stretch, especially if you haven’t interacted with them in person. Assume you haven’t? If you actually have a swimmer on the Fast, I’d encourage you to chat with Devon directly. You might be pleasantly surprised by his intentions.
My kid trains alongside Gabe in 10u, it’s fun and I can say from firsthand experience that both he and his dad are supportive of the whole team. It’s quite nice to have Gabe to chase, and he’s always positively pushing my kid to go harder. I haven’t seen any of the “toxicity” that you’ve mentioned here. In fact, the only negativity I see seems to be… Read more »
Who are you? Where are you at practice? Apparently you have an opinion that you are flying solo with and trying to start something. If you want to complain about something go step on a lego!
Swim Dad, if you are interested in talking about this, send me an email. I don’t want to put my email here, I think if you email Braden he can connect us (sorry if thats not allowed Braden; if not I’ll figure it out). It’s really hard to know how to navigate having a high performing child. I am not offering you advice; I am ofering to listen, tell you what it was like for me (as a parent) and tell you the mistakes I made. Either way good luck.
Sent to Braden. Hope to chat soon.
this comment section is exactly why Phelps isn’t interested in helping swimming and won’t put his kids in it. if your G.O.A.T. Isn’t interested in saving by swim then what does that say about the future of the sport
?
His records has been broken multiple times over. There are more names in the world of swimming than Phelps. Man these comments are something…. Gabe can smoke my kids and as long as he loves it and his parents support him why does anyone else care. If your kid is trying to reach the same level then you can show them they aren’t alone and other kids are out there crushing it every day. The negativity is actually why Phelps said no thank you, he said it was killing the sport.
Swimming’s Baby Gronk
couldn’t have thought of a more spot-on comparison myself
was just yesterday reading a similar comment thread discussion on the letsrun message board about an 11 year old boy who set a world record in the half marathon.
We don’t get articles about Adam Peaty being best time 1:32 100 BS at age 13. We don’t get articles about Leon Marchand not having done more than 4000m in a practice at age 12.
Great swims, Gabe!
Hope his coach doesn’t burn him out and we can continue seeing this young talent succeed.
coach = dad
soooooooooo do the math
His dad is NOT his coach; in fact he isn’t even a coach on deck at any point during his practice!!!
The 4 ahead of him should show you that this means nothing for future success. This is probably like the 10th? article about a 10 year old boy with no NAG records. Which would be fine if his dad wasn’t running an insane Instagram Gabe goes for gold. I’m sure he’ll see this and I’ll say this, you are doing your kid any favors.
Btw in the interview with him I think he swims 6x a week and does some sort of dryland 2/3 times a week. That is insane.
He will be burned out by 15.
I agree with most of what you say except for saying look at all 4 above him on the list. No 4’s story is still being written and has really just begun
Man I wanted to pass this comment and give it zero attention because an anonymous poster’s opinion of my parenting skills ranks somewhere between worrying about if the Matrix is real and wondering which Kardashian will marry the next professional athlete.
But the disrespect to the names on that list is just plainly ignorant. I’m going to add in the prior #5 just for the case of correlation:
1. Winn Aung – 2:11.32 (2013)- Winn often gets cited as an example of a top age grouper that didn’t pan out. And while he didn’t hit the stratosphere that being a NAG holder might desire, he swam D1 at Tampa and was a contributor.
2. Adam Hinshaw – 2:12.18… Read more »
“But you are probably ok because ignorance is currency in the virtual world.”
Quite a statement when you claim that Tampa is a Division I school…
A mistake and ingorance are two completely different ways to end up in the same destination. But if that if your biggest correction then I will still sleep fine tonight.
“My depths of knowledge into the college scenes and programs is trivial at best” sounds like, dare I say, ignorance?
Trust me, this guy is just as insufferable on his insta replies on that insane page he runs for his kid. These kind of parents always learn, one way or another…
You know you can still have hobby’s as a parent? Maybe just swim yourself and leave your kid alone
Szymanowski was sensational.
Small club national powerhouse.
California kids in the 80s in/around the Bay Area/Sacramento were built different.
Remember, all done in a Speedo brief and Swedish goggles (maybe even foam).
No goggles 100%. Swim cap yes. No goggs.
Man I wanted to pass this comment and give it zero attention because an anonymous poster’s opinion of my parenting skills ranks somewhere between worrying about if the Matrix is real and wondering which Kardashian will marry the next professional athlete.
But the disrespect to the names on that list is just plainly ignorant. I’m going to add in the prior #5 just for the case of correlation:
1. Winn Aung – 2:11.32 (2013)- Winn often gets cited as an example of a top age grouper that didn’t pan out. And while he didn’t hit the stratosphere that being a NAG holder might desire, he swam D1 at Tampa and was a contributor.
2. Adam Hinshaw – 2:12.18 (2004) swam… Read more »
Tampa is D2. Very good D2, but D2 nonetheless.
Thanks for the correction. I will confess that my depth of knowledge into the college scenes and programs is trivial at best.
Insane.
better get on the ball, Dad.
Look, I wish your son the best and hope he has a long and successful swimming career, and I understand what you are doing is being done because you think it’s in his best interest, which is commendable. But I have to admit your behavior on here is a little bizarre.
I have worked with kids your son’s age for a long time. I have seen plenty pan out, and plenty burn out. Most successful swimmers have parents who are very actively involved, and your son is lucky to have that. But please trust me when I say that the best thing you could do for your him is tone it down a little.