For the first time since 2024, Derek Maas, former Alabama and New York University swimmer, took to the pool for a race, competing in the 50 breaststroke at the JAWS Sun & Fun Spectacular (LCM) in Jenison, Michigan.
Maas clocked a 28.82, dominating the event and breaking the pool record at the Jenison High School Aquatic Center. That time sits well off his lifetime best of 27.81 from the 2023 US National Championships.
Race video courtesy of Kevin Maas on Instagram:
Maas has not competed since the 2024 Olympic Trials in Indianapolis, more than two years ago. At that meet, he finished 37th in the 100 breast (1:01.92), 54th in the 100 fly (53.91), and 73rd in the 200 IM (2:04.45).
Maas spent four years as a swimmer at Alabama, becoming a 12-time All-American. He then transferred to NYU for his 5th year of eligibility for the 2023-24 season, competing at the Division III level while beginning medical school at the Grossman School of Medicine. There, he won three DIII national championship titles, becoming s seven-time All-American.
Following his collegiate competition days, Maas stayed with the sport, joining the NYU coaching staff ahead of the 2024-25 season, and has spent the past two seasons in that role while continuing his academic journey through medical school.
The trend of American breaststrokers working full-time jobs while simultaneously training and competing. The most recent success story has been Indiana’s Director of Operations Van Mathias, who has exploded onto the international scene this season, surging to multiple American Records, including the 100 breast just weeks ago at the Indianapolis Pro Swim Series in 58.01, making him the 4th fastest performer in history in the event. He has also broken the 50 breast American Record on multiple occasions this season, most recently at the same Indianapolis Pro Series in 26.30, making him the 5th-fastest performer ever in the event.
One of the most well-known full-time workers and swimmers is Nic Fink, who recently announced on Instagram that he is a licensed professional engineer in the state of Georgia, where he works with HBK Engineering. Fink swam his first race since the 2024 Paris Olympics back in May at the GA Long Course Kickoff in Atlanta, touching in 27.73. The following month, he raced again at the ABSC IMX Series, clocking solid times of 27.01 in the 50 breast and 1:00.94 in the 100 breast.
Is he gonna try out D2 this time to complete the trilogy?
med school, assistant coach at NYU, and is training? huh?
Utterly ridiculous, especially because NYU med is 3 years for everyone now, unless he’s pursuing a competitive specialty and taking an extra research year
Update: I found his google scholar, he’s likely in a research year which is more lax. Seems to be pursuing dermatology, which almost all medical students take a research year for nowadays because of how competitive it has become as a specialty to match into.
uhh does this guy sleep?