Van Mathias Blasts 26.87 50 Breast At U.S. Summer Championships, Fastest American This Year

2025 U.S. SUMMER CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Tuesday, August 5 – Friday, August 8, 2025
• Irvine, California
• William Woollett Aquatics Center
• Start Times
  • Prelims: 9:00 am local / 12:00 pm ET
  • Finals: 5:00 pm local / 8:00 pm ET
• LCM (50 meters)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Live Stream Info (Available on USA Swimming Network App)
• Live Recaps
  • Day 1

Van Mathias obliterated his personal best by more than half a second in the heats of the men’s 50 breast this morning, clocking a time of 26.87 that ranks him as the fastest American swimmer this year. That would have taken the win at U.S. Nationals two months ago, just ahead of Campbell McKean (26.90) and Michael Andrew (26.92).

His previous mark was 27.54, set just three weeks ago at the Indiana Senior State Championships, which was already a 0.62 second improvement from just three weeks prior. It appears that the meet in June, the Indy Cup Time Trials, was his first since 2023 NCAAs, a gap of more than two years.

At those NCAA championships, Mathias finished 2nd in the 100 breast behind Max McHugh, clocking a time of 50.60 after a 50.57 in prelims.

He now ranks 5th among U.S. men, just a hundredth behind Mark Gangloff and one of only eight men under 27 seconds. He bumps fellow Indiana Hoosier Kevin Swander out of the top.

American Men All-Time Top-10, 50m Breast,

1. Nic Fink (2022) – 26.45
2. Michael Andrew (2022) – 26.52
3. Kevin Cordes (2015) – 26.76
4. Mark Gangloff (2009) – 26.86
5. Van Mathias (2025) – 26.87
6. Campbell McKean (2025) – 26.90
7. Hudson McDaniel (2021) – 26.92
8. Ian Finnerty (2018) – 26.96
9. Brendan McHugh (2014) and Devon Nowicki (2018) – 27.10
10. –

He also ranks 39th in history among all performers, and would have just made it into the final at this year’s world championships, where 26.93 was required for 8th in the semi-finals. On the season, he ranks 16th in the world.

Looking forward to LA with the inclusion of the stroke 50’s, Mathis has put himself in line for a possible 50 breast spot with this performance, especially if he can drop some more time. Nic Fink will be 35 by 2028, and Michael Andrew has been regressing in this event since setting his best in 2022.

Mathias was previously a fly swimmer, placing 2nd at the 2018 Junior Pan Pacs in the 200 fly behind Luca Urlando and beating out 2024 world champions Tomoru Honda. However, in his final season at Indiana he shifted to the sprint breaststroke events, which culminated in that 2nd-place finish in the 100, along with a speedy 22.53 50 breast split, one of the fastest in history.

It looks as though that breaststroke speed has transferred over to long course superbly, and Mathias is in line to make the Pan Pacs team for next summer if he matches or beats this time in the final tonight. Only times from finals are considered for the rankings from which the team is selected.