David Johnston Discusses Moving to Florida & Exploring NIL Money in Swimming | Episode 295

David Johnston Discusses Moving to Florida & Exploring NIL Money in Swimming | Episode 295

From Social Kick • Swim Culture & Stories by Social Kick

May 4, 2026 · 1h 16m · Episode 294

About this episode

David Johnston discusses his transfer to Florida and the implications of NIL in swimming.

In this episode of Social Kick, Olympic swimmer David Johnston opens up about his recent decision to transfer from Texas to Florida, diving deep into the realities of navigating the transfer portal, and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals in collegiate swimming. He candidly shares his struggles with a debilitating shoulder injury, his relentless drive to return to the sport he loves, and his ultimate goal for the 2028 Olympics. They discuss everything from what it means to “outwork” the competition, adapting to a new coaching style, and the mindset needed to overcome intense physical and mental setbacks. Listen in as David gets honest about what’s next and why he believes his best swimming is still ahead of him!

People in this episode

Guest: David Johnston

Topics covered

  • transfer portal
  • NIL deals
  • shoulder injury
  • 2028 Olympics
  • coaching style
  • mental setbacks

Keywords

  • David Johnston
  • Florida
  • Texas
  • NIL
  • 2028 Olympics
  • swimming
  • shoulder injury
  • coaching

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Florida, Texas

More episodes of Social Kick • Swim Culture & Stories

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Social Kick • Swim Culture & Stories podcast page.