Santa Monica’s top swimmer hasn’t yet hit high school, but 13-year-old Gabi Brito has already hit one of the highest honors in the sport.
This month, the Lincoln Middle School student’s swimming prowess crested by earning a US Olympic Trials cut in the 50-meter freestyle event, a 25.42-second mark that puts her among the nation’s best. This weekend’s trials at Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium will feature Brito in time trials for the 100-meter breaststroke and 100-meter butterfly, before Saturday morning’s massive 50-meter freestyle preliminary race.
Brito earned a spot at the trials in her last opportunity, beating the cut by 0.27 seconds at the CA CITI Summer Sizzler event. The 25.42-second time is the fastest time ever recorded in the 50 free by a 13-year-old, beating the previous record held by 2020 Olympics bronze medalist Kate Douglass.
"I spent the whole week prior to that [preparing] for that moment, because that was my last [shot] … it was surreal because I just heard screams around me, and I was like oh my gosh, did I get it?," Brito said. "And then I saw the board, and … I definitely cried [from] that … I did not feel real, and to be leaving for trials [now], it all just comes so fast."
Working as the PA announcer for the meet was her mother, Roosevelt Elementary School 4th Grade teacher Akiko Gooden, who closed her eyes before the scoreboard showed the cut-making time. Not knowing if she would hear disappointment from the crowd of Brito’s peers and community or wild screaming, she was prepared for either, and was intensely emotional when it was indeed the latter.
"I just started screaming and crying, just [an] ugly cry … I just cannot believe this is really happening," Gooden said.
Her burst of emotions was made stronger by Brito barely missing the cut the prior week, finishing .02 seconds short at the CA NOVA Speedo Grand Challenge in Irvine. That weekend still brought positives on several levels, however, including Brito breaking the Southern California Swimming LSC record in the 50 free, set in 1982 by 12-time Olympic medalist Dana Torres.
The prodigy also had a full-circle moment during the weekend, competing in the championship heat with 2016 Olympics gold medalist Simone Manuel. As part of a second-grade project on personal heroes, Brito entered her classroom dressed as Manuel and introducing herself as the swimmer. Just five years later, the hero has become a peer, with Gooden saying Brito’s face was "priceless" during a post-meet conversation.
"She was actually really nice, she gave me some advice and she said sorry … that I missed the cut, and she gave me a little pat on the back … it was really, really great," Brito said of the meeting. "Hopefully, one [day] I can be on a relay with her."
Another mentor along the way has been Brito’s sister, Bella Brito, a top-level high school recruit who committed to USC for the 2025-26 school year. Bella was with her younger sister the entire way, making a pact that the two would share the Olympic Trials stage one day, a feat Gabi surprised everyone by achieving so early.
"[Bella] paved the way for me, she would always call me [and say] don’t worry, you have so much more ahead of you, this is just the beginning, you can do so much," Brito said of her sister. "In practice, I’m actually in her group, so it’s definitely fun because we’re both very competitive with each other, we never want to lose to one another … [but] she’s definitely one of my biggest hype men. I know sometimes we can fight [or] whatever, but she’ll always positively uplift me no matter if it’s swim and school, or just life, she’s always there."
Following both of her daughters’ careers has been a whirlwind for Gooden, who shared advice for other student-athlete parents trying to keep calm within the busy lifestyle.
"I’ve learned a lot to just say less, just be very supportive," Gooden said. "[I] drive them, feed them and love them … I think it’s better to just be a good cheerleader, don’t get into the details about [their] swims … because you [can] say too much and you feel too much. Right now, I am just the biggest fan, I’m just gonna be there to cheer [Gabi] on and just hoping that she enjoys every second of it."
Now arriving in Indianapolis, Brito shared a similar sentiment, not getting caught up in the quick transition to Trials preparation.
"I try and keep my mind off of it as much as I can [and] just focus on what’s in front of me right now," she said.
The 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials can be seen on Friday and Saturday at 8am PDT on the USA Swimming Network and the Peacock streaming service. Should Brito make the finals in the 50 free, the broadcast will be on NBC at 5pm PDT Saturday.
