Columbia University Athletics

Gustavo Leal began at Columbia in 2008 as assistant coach for men's swimming. For more than a decade, Leal has continued to lead the development of sensational swimmers in the program to championship levels.

Leal has helped Columbia swimmers capture 18 Ivy League titles and garner seven NCAA Championship appearances. He was instrumental in the guidance of four-time Ivy League champions Adam Powell '11CC (50 Free, 100 Free) and Hyun Lee '11CC (200 Free, 500 Free, 200 Fly, 400 FR), along with three-time Ivy League champion and All-American David Jakl '15CC (100 Back, 100 Fly, 100 Free). As a team, the Lions have put together an impressive three unbeaten dual meet seasons at home since 2013, including (2016-17, 2014-15, 2012-13).

Prior to his arrival on Morningside Heights, Leal spent seven seasons as an assistant to his former head coach, Rick Walker, at Southern Illinois University.

During his first three years as an assistant coach, Leal helped SIU win a Missouri Valley Conference title in his first year (2002), finish as runner-up in 2003, and win the first MVC Invitational title in 2004. While coaching at SIU, Leal also served as an assistant coach for the Saluki Swim Club for eight years. 

Leal was a part of the SIU men's swimming program for almost a decade, as he began his collegiate career there as a swimmer in 1998. He was a key member of the 1999 MVC championship team, swimming on the championship 200 and 800 freestyle relay teams, earning All-MVC honors in 1999 and 2000 in both events.

A native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Leal was also named to the 1999 and 2000 MVC Scholar-Athlete teams. Prior to SIU, Leal was a two-time National Junior College Athletic Association national champion at national power Indian River Community College in Fort Pierce, Florida. Leal earned NJCAA All-American honors eight times in the 100, 200, 500 and 1650 freestyle at Indian River from 1996-98.

Leal finished his undergraduate degree in management and marketing at Southern Illinois in 2001, before adding a master's degree in business administration in May 2001.