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From the YMCA Marlins to the Ivy League, Gabriella is almost more comfortable in the water than she is on land.
With older siblings who swam, Gabriella said it was only natural for her to take a dip too – her incredible success, however, came from years of intense mental self-discipline as much as her physical training.
“For me, swimming has always felt so second nature,” she said. “I don’t remember a time I wasn’t on a swim team. Racing brings me so much joy, and it’s such a visible reward when it works out.”
Breaking two pool records during her four years at Memorial – one within the past few weeks, in the 200m breaststroke with a time of 1:05:07 – she swims year-round thanks to the YMCA team, which she has competed for in some variation since she was about 4 years old.
“Your mindset in swimming is so important - it can be such a mental game...”
With her initial high school years impacted by COVID-19, her limited time left at Memorial is bittersweet. After seeing interest from universities across the country – ranging from Yale and Princeton to the University of Minnesota, the University of Iowa, Denver, Wyoming, and many others – she has been accepted to swim and study at Harvard in the fall of 2024 via the likely letter process.
Gabriella’s efforts in school have complemented her athletic achievements. She has taught swim lessons, been a lifeguard at Fairfax Pool, is on student council, and is a member of the Eco Warriors club.
“Your mindset in swimming is so important and it can be such a mental game,” she said. “Being a student athlete has also taught me to value my time, and to manage it. Those are things I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life even when I’m no longer an athlete.”
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