NEW COMMIT: Backstroker Lucius Gao of Fort Collins, Colorado has handed the University of Chicago a new commitment for this upcoming fall.
Gao does his club swimming with Fort Collins Area Swim Team and owns the Winter Juniors standard in both backstroke events. He most recently competed at Juniors West last month where he recorded a pair of lifetime bests and concluded his summer season with 100% best times and five final appearances at the Western Zone Senior Championships. Also competing for Fort Collins High School, Gao is a three-time Colorado 5A State Championship finalist. The USA Swimming Scholastic All-American was the 100 free runner-up and took seventh in the 100 back as a junior after placing sixth in the latter during his sophomore season.
He told Swimming World:
“I am beyond humbled and excited to finally announce that I will be furthering my academic and athletic pursuits at the University of Chicago. I’d like to thank my family, coaches, and close friends from the bottom of my heart for their unremitting support, for I wouldn’t be here today without them. Go Maroons!”
His best times include:
- 100 back – 50.58
- 200 back – 1:53.19
- 50 free – 21.56
- 100 free – 46.61
His club coach, Mike Novell, said:
“Lucius has been a great student athlete and leader at Fort Collins Area Swim Team and Fort Collins High School and will make an excellent addition to the University of Chicago’s Team. We are excited to see what he accomplishes in the next phase of his swimming career.”
When he arrives in Chicago as a member of the class of 2023, Gao will make an immediate impact in the back and sprint free events. He would’ve scored in the A-final of the 100 back as well as the B-final of the 200 back and 100 free at the 2018 UAA Championships where the Maroons finished fourth overall in the team standings.
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