SENIOR DAY: Tulane Honors Swimming and Diving’s Olivia Johnson
Mar 26, 2020 | General, Women's Swimming and Diving
Olivia Johnson came to Tulane in the fall of 2016 from her hometown of West Lafayette, Indiana. Over the past four years, she has established herself as one of the top swimmers in Tulane program history. She finished her career with a total of nine trips to the medal stand at American Athletic Conference Championships, including three gold medals. Johnson also finished her career with three Green Wave school records.
Following the conclusion of the AAC Championships, Johnson learned that she had qualified for the 2020 NCAA Championships for the first time in her career, but would not be able to compete due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today we honor Olivia in our SENIOR DAY web series.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Over the next few months, TulaneGreenWave.com will honor the 35 seniors that had their respective collegiate careers cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic through this SENIOR DAY series. We hope you the fans enjoy this series and remember the seniors from the 2020 graduating class.
Q AND A WITH OLIVIA JOHNSON
What was your favorite memory from Tulane?
“My favorite memory from Tulane was our training trip to Hawaii freshman year. We did a ton of hard, quality training but we also were able to do a lot of fun activities in Oahu. I loved snorkeling in Hanauma Bay even though I got caught on the coral a couple of times. It was such a fun team bonding trip and one I will never forget.”
What made you decide to come to Tulane?
“The city of New Orleans has a special aura to it that really draws you in. When I saw the downtown skyline for the first time, I knew I had to come to Tulane. On my recruiting trip, I felt really connected with the team because everyone welcomed me with open arms. The city, the people, and the culture of New Orleans and Tulane are really special. I'm so grateful I had the opportunity to be a part of it for (almost) four years.”
What are your plans for next year?
“Though I'm sad my time at Tulane is over, I'm very excited about the future. In the fall, I will be starting the dual MBA/MSA Sports Administration program at Ohio University. Go Bobcats!”
“The city of New Orleans has a special aura to it that really draws you in. When I saw the downtown skyline for the first time, I knew I had to come to Tulane.Olivia Johnson
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— Tulane Green Wave (@TulaneAthletics) February 26, 2019
With the AAC Championship Meet on the horizon, we figured it be a great time to check in with @GreenWaveSwim's Olivia Johnson to see how she is #NOLABuilt.#RollWave pic.twitter.com/XhImQPnpg2
Congratulations Champ!
— Tulane Swim & Dive (@GreenWaveSwim) February 22, 2020
We are so proud of you Olivia.#RollWave pic.twitter.com/OjEXcbr7jU
OLIVIA JOHNSON'S COMPLETE COLLEIGATE CAREER BIO
CAREER TOP TIMES
200 Breast: 2:16.60 at AAC Championship (2/18/17)
200 Fly: 2:02.43 at Dual-a-Pool-Ooza (10/19/19)
200 IM: 2:01.71 at AAC Championship (2/17/18)
400 IM: 4:07.72 at AAC Championship (2/21/20)
500 Free: 4:45.06 at AAC Championship (2/20/20)
1000 Free: 9:53.64 at AAC Championship (2/22/20)
1650 Free: 16:18.63 at AAC Championship (2/22/20)
As a Senior (2019-20): Opened the year on a high note as she won the 1,000 freestyle event, finishing in a time of 10:13.57 at LSU (Sept. 28)...Posted a pair of runner-up finishes at Dual-A-Pool-Ooza (Oct. 18) in the 500-yard freestyle and the 200-yard breaststroke)...Posted a winning performance in the in the 400 IM during the second day of Dual-A-Pool-Ooza (Oct. 19), clocking a time of 4:19.99 finishing nearly eight seconds ahead of runner-up Charlotte Simon from Denver...Clocked a qualifying standard for the 2020 Olympic Trials, as she posted a mark of 2:16.99 in the 200 IM at the Toyota U.S. Open (Dec. 4)...Two days later at the Toyota U.S. Open, she took 12th in the 400 IM ...Posted a winning performance of 4:20.39 in the 400 IM at the FGCU Quad Meet (Jan. 4)...Won a pair of races against West Florida and Hendrix (Jan. 10), claiming both the 1650-yard freestyle (16:53.30) and 200-yard breaststroke (2:20.62)...Concluded her collegiate career at home against SMU (Jan. 25) on a high note, as she won the 1000 freestyle in a time of 10:03.80...Made three trips to the medal stand at the American Athletic Conference Championships (Feb. 19-22)...Captured her third career AAC gold medal, as she won the 400 IM in a school-record time of 4:07.72...She also earned third-place finishes in the 1650-yard freestyle and on the 800-yard relay team which finished in a school time of 7:14.30...Qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 400 IM and the 1,650-yard freestyle, but was unable to compete, as the championships were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a Junior (2018-19): Opened the year with wins in the 1000 freestyle (10:08.85) and 400 IM (4:19.04) against Houston (Oct. 6)…Finished first in the 1000 freestyle (10:04.30) and 500 freestyle (4:56.02) against LSU and Loyola (Oct. 26)…Won the 500 freestyle against Georgia Southern (Nov. 3)…Set a school record in the 500 freestyle (4:48.92) and placed first in the 400 IM (4:12.76) at the Phill Hansel Invitational (Nov. 16)…Won the 500 freestyle (4:58.13) against West Florida (Jan. 26)…Won the 500 freestyle (5:00.40) and finished second in the 1000 freestyle (10:14.18) against SMU (Feb. 8)...Closed out the year on a high note, as she became the first Green Wave swimmer to captured gold medals in two events at the American Athletic Conference Championships, winning the 400 IM (4:10.58) and the 1,650 freestyle (16:31.20).
As a Sophomore (2017-18):
Won a bronze medal at the CSCAA National Invitational in the 400 IM with a time of 4:15.63 (March 9)...Scored Tulane's only silver medal of the AAC Championship with a time of 4:11.98 in the 400 IM, breaking the school record in the process (Feb. 16)...Also won the bronze at the AAC Championship in the 1650 free with a time of 16:32.87...That time was second-fastest ever in team history...Swam the second-fastest 1000 free in team history as a split in that race, touching the wall at 9:59.51 to be the second swimmer in team history to break the 10-minute mark in the 1000 free...At the AAC Championship, swam the third-best 200 IM in team history in 2:01.71...Owns the nine fastest overall 400 IM times in team history and 11 of the fastest 12...Part of the 800 free relay team that is second all-time in Tulane history with a time of 7:18.75 at the AAC Championship...Won the 500 free and 200 IM at the Loyola-New Orleans Dual Meet (Jan. 19)...Won the 400 IM at the Phill Hansel Invitational in 4:15.55...Won the 500 free and 100 breast in a dual meet against West Florida (Oct. 21)...Won the 1000 free against SMU (Oct. 6) in 10:10.54...Opened the year with wins in the 1000 free and 200 IM at the LSU Tri-Meet (Sept. 29).
As a Freshman (2016-17):
Competed at 2017 USA Nationals and World Championship Trials and finished 22nd in the 400 IM...Earned All-American Athletic Conference honors…Named to the American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team...Received CSCAA Scholar All-America Honorable Mention recognition...Enjoyed a successful debut campaign, breaking the school record in the 200 IM on multiple occasion…Claimed a silver medal in the 200 IM with a mark of 4:12.79 at the conference championships in Houston (Feb. 18), topping her previous program standard of 4:17.88 in the event set at the Phill Hansel Invitational (Nov. 20)…Concluded her freshman campaign with four of the top five times in the event in program history, including the top three...Member of Tulane Athletics 3.0 Club for fall 2016 and spring 2017.
Before Tulane:
Participated in the US Olympic Swim Team Trials in Omaha, Nebraska, competing in the 400 IM ... Spent two years swimming for the Fishers Area Swimming Tigers ... Competed in the 400 IM, 1650 free, 1000 free and 200 breast at the 2015 SCY Senior State meet, helping her team to a top finish ... Spent three years on the varsity cross country team at William Henry Harrison High School, earning MVP and All-State honors ... Was also a member of the National Honor Society.
Personal:
Born in Fort Wayne, Ind. ... Raised in West Lafayette, Ind. ...Has a younger brother.
UPCOMING SENIOR DAY SERIES SCHEDULE
March 27– Senior Day on Jonathon Artigues (Baseball)
March 28 – Senior Day on Maya Harewood (Track and Field)
March 29– Senior Day on Christion Thompson (Men’s Basketball)
March 31– Senior Day on Isabelle Lee (Bowling)
April 2– Senior Day on K.J. Lawson (Men’s Basketball)
April 3 – Senior Day on Brandi Hughes (Track and Field)
April 4– Senior Day on Gabrielle Correia (Women’s Golf)
April 6– Senior Day on Luis Elenbusch (Men’s Tennis)
April 8– Senior Day on Laura Fabrizi (Women’s Tennis)
April 10– Senior Day on Jessica Duckett (Track and Field)
April 11– Senior Day on Luke Glancy (Baseball)
April 12– Senior Day on Josie Larkin (Sailing)
April 14– Senior Day on Grant Matthews (Baseball)
April 16– Senior Day on Kaylie McHugh (Beach Volleyball)
April 18– Senior Day on Nic Thomas (Men’s Basketball)
April 20– Senior Day on Haydyn Gibson (Women’s Golf)
April 22– Senior Day on Dane Esses (Men’s Tennis)
April 23– Senior Day on Tom Coe (Track and Field)
April 24– Senior Day on Ty Johnson (Baseball)
April 26– Senior Day on Paige Fatland (Track and Field)
April 27– Senior Day on Christina Sisti (Women’s Tennis)
April 28– Senior Day on Stephen Hahn (Sailing)
April 30– Senior Day on Trent Johnson (Baseball)
May 2– Senior Day on Eva Torruella (Beach Volleyball)
May 4– Senior Day on Ewan Moore (Men’s Tennis)
May 6 – Senior Day on Keagan Gillies (Baseball)
May 7 – Senior Day on Mary Catherine Stovall (Track and Field)
May 8 – Senior Day on Tim Ruetzel (Men’s Tennis)
May 10 – Senior Day on Meghan Doyle (Beach Volleyball)
May 12 – Senior Day on Corey Dauphine (Track and Field)
May 13 – Senior Day on Brinton Hoover (Sailing)
May 14 – Senior Day on Skyler Guillot (Track and Field)
May 15 – Senior Day on Tarin Mergener (Beach Volleyball)
May 16 – Senior Day on Robert Price (Baseball)
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Tulane University is located in the city of New Orleans. It is a city built on tradition and resiliency. The lessons Green Wave student-athletes have learned through their connection with this university and city have BUILT doctors, lawyers, business leaders, conference champions, all-conference players, all-Americans, professional athletes and NCAA tournament teams. The city of New Orleans has shaped us into who we are today. We are One City. We are Tulane. We are NOLA BUILT. Check out our story at NolaBuilt.com.
