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2025-26 Men's Swimming and Diving Roster

Zion James

  • Class Senior
  • Hometown Memphis, Tenn.
  • Previous School Memphis University High School
  • College Columbia College

Biography

2024–25 (Junior)
Had one of Columbia’s best Ivy League performances: 4th in 50 free (19.49), 4th in 100 free (42.77), and helped set program records in both the 200 medley (1:24.75, 4th) and 200 free relays (1:17.47, 3rd). Won both sprint events multiple times, including vs. Penn, Princeton, Cornell, Navy, and Brown. Anchored several top relay teams and was a constant top-three finisher in sprint free events.


2023-24 (Sophomore) 
In the season opener against Penn, he was part of the team to win the 200-medley relay with a time of 1.30.28; he also won the 50-free with a time of 20.71. Against Yale, was part of the team to win the 200-medley relay with a time of 1:29.96. Against Harvard, he was part of the team to win the 200-medley relay with a time of 1:29.23. In the Big Al Invitational, he was part of the team to receive a sixth-place finish in the 200-free relay with a time of 1:20.42; He also placed seventh in the 50-free with a time of 20.22; He also earned fourth place in the 100-free with a time of 43.77. Against Cornell, he was part of the team to win the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:30.44; He was also part of the team to win the 400-free relay with a time of 3:01.45; He also won the 50-free with a time of 20.83. Against Dartmouth, he was part of the team that won first in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:30.08. In the Ivy League Championships, he was part of the team to earn third in the 200-free relay with a time of 1:19.04; He also received 7th place in the 50-free with a time of 19.87; In the 400-medley relay, he was part of the team to win the silver medal which shattered the previous Columbia program record with a time of 3:07.34; He also earned a seventh-place finish in the 100-free; He was part of the team to earn fifth in the 400-free relay with a time of 2:55.73.

2022-23 (First-Year)
Part of a team that finished fourth in the 400-free relay at the Ivy League Championships with a time of 2:55.26. Finished fifth in the 50-free with a time of 18.73. Part of a team that won the bronze medal in the 200-medley relay at the Ivy League Championships with a time of 1:25.53…Part of a squad that won the 200-medley relay at Dartmouth on Feb. 4 with a time of 1:30.98…Won the 50-free (20.87) at Cornell on Jan. 28…Part of a team that won the 200-medley relay (1:29.90) vs. Brown on Jan. 14…Won the 50-free against Brown on Jan. 14 with a time of 20.80…Part of a relay that won the 200 IM against Princeton on Nov. 11 with a time of 1:29.45…Part of a squad that won the 200-medley relay (1:29.96) at Penn on Nov. 5. Part of a relay team in the 400-yard freestyle that won with a time of 3:02.77…Part of the 200-meter relay team that won against Army on Nov. 4 with a time of 1:29.90. Earned second place in the 50 free (20.90). Runner-up finish in the 100 freestyle, posting a time of 46.07.

BEFORE COLUMBIA: Swam for Memphis University School…Holds high school and club records in 100 and 50 free (2022)…All-Metro Swimmer of the Year (2022)…All-State (2022, 2021)…Second-ranked swimmer in Tennessee…Third Place, 2022 TISCA State Championships, 50 free, 100 free …Competed at Junior Nationals…Also competed in track and bowling.

PERSONAL: Enrolled in Columbia College…Plans to major in computer science.

Historical Player Information

  • 2022-23First Year

    Free
  • 2023-24Sophomore

    Free
  • 2024-25Junior

    Free
  • 2025-26Senior

    Free