Swedish National Record Holder Victor Johansson verbally committed to swim at the University of Southern California on Saturday. Johansson will join the class of 2022 as one of the top international signees in this class.
Johansson was 15th in the 1500 at the World Championships in Budapest this summer with a 15:05.91 to break the Swedish record. Johansson finished ahead of both Americans True Sweetser and Robert Finke in the race. He also has the Swedish record in the 800 free with his 7:52.66 from the World Championships where he placed 11th right behind American Clark Smith.
He also boasts best times of 1:48.74 in the long course 200 free and 3:48.96 in the 400 free. He did both of times at the World Championships in Budapest where he placed 36th and 17th respectively.
Johansson will be a huge addition to USC’s team as it is historically known for producing legendary distance swimmers Larsen Jensen, Oussama Mellouli, Erik Vendt and Mike O’Brien who have all either won NCAA individual titles in the 1650 or won Olympic medals in the 1500.
Johansson’s best LCM times would roughly convert to 1:35.14, 4:15.29 and 14:43.26, as he could be an NCAA scorer immediately in his freshman year if he adjusts to swimming yards.
Johansson was recently fifth at the European Short Course Championships in the 1500 where he swam a 14:34.46. He was also fourth in the 400 free final at the same meet with a 3:39.35.
Johansson will be joining a freshman class that includes Ariel Spektor and Alexei Sancov.
alrighty 🙂