Las Vegas Swimmer Sam Gao to Join Johns Hopkins in 2027
The local Sandpipers athlete will compete for the Division III program starting in the fall of 2027.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Swimming
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Local high school senior and Sandpipers of Nevada swimmer Sam Gao has committed to swim for Johns Hopkins University. He is scheduled to join the Division III program in the fall of 2027.
Why it matters
Gao joins a team that recently placed 9th at the 2026 NCAA Division III Championships and claimed the 2026 Centennial Conference title.
Johns Hopkins placed 9th at the 2026 NCAA Division III Championships. Gao brings personal best times including a 4:38.53 in the 500 free and a 3:55.60 in the 400 IM.
The players
Sam Gao
A Las Vegas high school senior and Sandpipers of Nevada swimmer who committed to Johns Hopkins University.
Johns Hopkins University
A Division III institution in Baltimore that won the 2026 Centennial Conference men's swimming championships.
Alex Wood
An incoming athlete who also committed to join the Johns Hopkins men's swimming team.
Thomas Lathrop
An incoming athlete who also committed to join the Johns Hopkins men's swimming team.
Samuel Zhang
An incoming athlete who also committed to join the Johns Hopkins men's swimming team.
The details
Gao, a senior training with the Sandpipers of Nevada, will head to the Baltimore campus to begin his collegiate career. His commitment follows competitive appearances at the 2026 NCSA Summer Championships and the Futures Championship in Sacramento. He joins incoming teammates Alex Wood, Thomas Lathrop, and Samuel Zhang at the university.
Timeline
October 2025: Gao competed at the Pumpkin Invite.
March 2026: Gao competed at the Western Zone Senior Championships.
July 2026: Gao competed at the NCSA Summer Championships and Futures Championship.
Fall 2027: Gao begins collegiate swimming at Johns Hopkins.
Beyond the Strip
This commitment follows the Johns Hopkins men's team securing a top-10 finish at the 2026 NCAA Division III Championships. Gao's move to the Baltimore program maintains the recent trend of local competitive swimmers advancing to established Division III rosters.
Gao will continue his training with the Sandpipers of Nevada through his final high school season. Residents can track his performance in upcoming local and regional swim meets leading up to his fall 2027 departure.
The takeaway
Gao is set to bring a diverse range of experience to the Johns Hopkins roster, including a 15:42.04 personal best in the 1650 free. Keep an eye on his final local competitions to see how he continues to refine these times before heading to the collegiate level.
Further reading
Keep up with other local athletes in our Swimming section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SwimSwam.
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