One on One with the Great One
Andrew David Peter Johnson II is a unique individual to say the least. As an only child, AJ wanted to be different than his friends. He wanted to excel at something that no one else has excelled at and be different than his friends. Around the age of eight, AJ fell in love with swimming.
Growing up in Charleston, S.C., AJ didn't always want to be a swimmer. In fact, at the age of five he had a traumatic incident where he nearly drowned in a swimming pool. "My 11 year old friend had to save me from drowning in his pool. I was honestly scared of the water for quite some time after that happened but I got right back on the horse and excelled."
The reason he likes swimming so much is because it is a very quiet sport. "I can see my competitors but I cannot hear them. I don't know when they are struggling so it is me pushing myself. Being in the water for two hours is somewhat like meditating. It is a time to self reflect and collect my thoughts."
That incident only made AJ stronger and at the age of eight, he decided to take up swimming full time. AJ also played soccer and tennis and was quite the all around athlete. When he decided that swimming was the thing that set him apart, he worked hard to become where he is today.
In high school, AJ set a state record in the 100 freestyle. He was a four time state champion and four time swimmer of the year.
When AJ was looking at colleges he knew he wanted to swim at the next level. Therefore, he only applied to schools that had swimming. In particular, AJ applied to UNC Wilmington in North Carolina and thought that was where he wanted to be. When he visited the campus it was beautiful but just wasn't the right fit.
Next, AJ visited the University of Tampa and immediately loved it. The campus was perfect and he hit it off with the other swimmers on the recruiting trip, especially his current best friend and roommate Jeff Fiore. They both decided to come to UT and never regretted it.
"I always wanted to leave South Carolina and Tampa was a great culture shock for me. It's a whole different lifestyle than I'm used to and a lot of students from the Northeast. I wasn't supposed to make it this far with swimming, but now at Tampa I'm the captain of the swim team."
As a senior on the Team AJ appreciates the coaching staff and his teammates. "My teammates are my best friends. We put in countless hours, by far of any team on campus and I'm with them all the time in and out of the pool. We work the hardest, study the hardest and also play the hardest. When you go hard for six days in a row you really learn to have as much fun and take full advantage of your 24hours off from swimming. And as for the coaches I really do like them.
Their personalities complement each other. We have the hard coach, the fun coach and the supportive coach. Its one of the better coaching staffs that I've ever seen."
When he graduates in May, AJ wants to go to law school. He is going to take the LSAT in December. The reason he thinks law school will be a good fit is because he is good at public speaking is very opinionated. He needs to have his voice heard and loves to be challenged mentally. You have to adapt to law just like swimming. "I need to find a job that's mentally stimulating and keeps me awake."
AJ's dream is to own a bookstore and work out any time he wants to. "Gotta keep in shape man. Even when I'm done with swimming I still want to keep my ridiculous figure in shape." Additionally, he wants to have a family. As for where he will be after graduation he has no clue. "I could end up back in South Carolina, down here in Florida, up north or even the Midwest."
At UT, AJ wants to make a difference. As the captain of the swim team he wants to get a coalition of captains of all the sports teams here at UT. He wants to create an event and celebrate the fact that we're students athletes, much like the Greek's have a formal he would like something like that for the athletes.
AJ also has a special superpower. "Any shower in the world I can turn the nozzle to the perfect temperature every time. It's my secret power. It's a proven super power and I'm proud that I have it." Another interesting fact is that AJ swam against Michael Phelps. "Flat out that dude is fast. He wooped everyone in the pool."
AJ wants to make a difference, at UT and in the world. He is a proven leader and never follows. He is an individual with high expectations and is very determined. He is Mr. Swagnificiant.
Written by Alexa Della Rocco