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Futures Championship finalist Sam Gao is headed east for his collegiate career; the Nevada native has announced his verbal commitment to swim for Johns Hopkins University in Maryland beginning in the fall of 2027.
A high school senior from Las Vegas, Gao currently swims year-round for the Sandpipers of Nevada, and he primarily specializes in the longer distances of free, fly and IM.
Gao turned in a steady stream of lifetime best performances throughout the 2026-2027 season, logging a personal best time at nearly every competition. He clocked lifetime bests in the 1000 free (9:36.36) [9:30.06 altitude-adjusted] and 200 fly (1:52.61) at the 2025 Pumpkin Invite in October, as well as in the 1650 free (15:42.04) at the 2025 Winter Junior Championships and in the 500 free (4:38.53) [4:36.03 altitude-adjusted] at the 2026 Desert Committee Championship.
At the 2026 Western Zone Senior Championships in March, Gao posted a series of top swims, earning a second swim in four events. He won the 400 IM (3:55.60 – PB) and took 2nd in the 100 fly (50.52 – PB), 4th in the 200 IM (1:55.38) and 6th in the 200 breast (2:07.47). He also contested the 200 fly, setting a best time of 1:50.51.
Gao competed at the 2026 NCSA Summer Championships (LCM) in July, turning in a string of personal best performances. He placed 11th in the 200 fly (2:04.77 – PB) and 400 IM (4:30.17 – PB), 17th in the 800 free (8:28.69 – PB), 29th in the 200 breast (2:26.90) and 37th in the 200 IM (2:10.78).
A week later, Gao was back in action at the Futures Championship (LCM) in Sacramento, where he earned a second swim in three events. He placed 10th in the 400 IM (4:34.18), 19th in the 200 fly (2:05.37) and 23rd in the 200 IM (2:10.24 – PB). He also contested the 100 fly (58.54 – PB).
Best Times SCY
- 200 fly – 1:50.51
- 200 IM – 1:55.19
- 400 IM – 3:55.60
- 500 free – 4:36.03
- 1000 free – 9:30.06
- 1650 free – 15:42.04
A Division III program in the Centennial Conference, the Johns Hopkins men claimed the championship title at their inaugural Centennial Conference Championships last season before sending eight athletes to compete at the NCAA Division III Championships, where they finished 9th overall. Based on the results from the 2026 conference championships, Gao would have placed 2nd in the 1650 free and would have landed in the ‘A’ final in the 400 IM and 500 free and the ‘B’ final in the 200 IM, putting him in a position to be a key contributor right from the start.
Gao is currently set to be joined in Baltimore in the fall by Alex Wood, Thomas Lathrop and Samuel Zhang, all of whom should make for strong training partners over their four years together.
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