Olympian David Johnston Reveals Car Accident Injuries Keeping Him Out of the Water
American Olympic distance swimmer David Johnston this week revealed “persistent neurological symptoms” that have kept him from competing the last 13 months.
Johnston made a lengthy post on Instagram shedding light on what he’s been through in the last year. He’s hardly competed since taking part in the 2025 World Championships in Singapore for a variety of reasons.
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Johnston, who turned 25 in October, relocated to Florida as part of a transfer to Gainesville in the fall of 2025. He was rehabbing injuries to his shoulders and knees when he was involved in a car accident three months ago that left with a concussion and lingering symptoms.
“I’m incredibly grateful to the coaches and trainers at the University of Florida for providing a level of care and support I haven’t experienced before,” Johnston wrote. “They’ve changed my expectations of how coaches and trainers can support their athletes. I’m determined to get healthy and return to doing what I love. When my brain heals I’ll be back, and I’m doing everything I can to make that happen as soon as possible.”
Johnston represented the United States at the Paris Olympics in 2024 thanks to one of the most exciting qualifications of Olympic Trials that year. He finished 18th in the 1,500 freestyle. He was added to the open water team but had to bow out due to a COVID-19 diagnosis.
Johnston was an eight-time All-American at Texas, part of the 2021 NCAA Championship squad and the 2022 runner-up team. He also helped lead the Longhorns to three Big 12 team championships. He won four individual Big 12 titles, including three in the 1,650 free.
The native of Dallas received his bachelor’s degree in the spring of 2023 and continued swimming through the 2025 college season while pursuing graduate studies. He had planned to continue swimming at Florida in 2025-26.
Johnston took part in the 2024 World Championships, where he finished fifth in the 400 individual medley. He fell shy of the final in the 400 free in 12th place and the 800 free in 11th. He also placed 17th in the 400 free at Worlds in 2023 and ninth in the 1,500 free at Worlds in 2025.
