Indiana vs Louisville
- Friday, January 30th
- SCY (25 yards)
Less than a week after posting the #8 performance in history, Van Mathias delivered another historic swim, this time touching in a 49.54 in the 100 breaststroke. That marks the #3 performance all-time.
Mathias suited up and raced the event during a time trial as Indiana hosted Louisville for a dual meet on Friday, January 30th.
Mathias graduated from Indiana in spring 2023 and spent over a year out of the pool. He was primarily a butteflyer during his time at Indiana as he only raced the 100 breast four times in his collegiate career, with three of those coming in his fifth year.
During his time out of the pool, he began as the Director of Operations for the Indiana swimming and diving program. He made the US National Team after posting a 26.76 at US Nationals in Irvine in August off of just eight weeks of training.
In addition to making the US National Team, Mathias also qualified to represent the US at the 2026 Pan Pac Championships.
100 Breast (SCY) Top 10 Performances All Time:
- Julian Smith — 49.51
- Liam Bell — 49.53
- Van Mathias — 49.54
- Julian Smith — 49.55
- Ian Finnerty — 49.69
- Nate Germonprez — 49.71
- Ian Finnerty — 49.85
- Max McHugh — 49.90
- Van Mathias — 49.93
- Finn Brooks — 49.94
Prior to last weekend, Mathias had not dipped below the 50-second mark ever in his career as his best time was a 50.57 from the 2023 NCAA Championships. That marked his final meet during his collegiate career with Indiana.
Earlier this month, he also posted a lifetime best in the long course meters 100 breast as he swam a 59.45 to win the event at the Pro Series in Austin. That was the same meet he swam to a Pro Series Record with a 26.57 50 breast.
50 Free
Mathias also time trialed a 50 freestyle during the dual meet, touching in a 18.48. That was also faster than his time from last weekend when he touched in a 18.72. His best time during his collegiate career was a 18.89 from 2023 NCAAs.
*SwimSwam has requested splits and video. We will update the article once those are received. His time trial is not available on Meet Mobile.
On swimcloud I noticed a few Florida pros did some exhibition swims vs. FSU — Weyant 1:59 (200fly), Ledecky 4:27 (500 free) Finke 3:44 (400 IM), Smith 1:32 (200 free)
Sheeeeesh that record is out the window come March
you realize he’s out of college, right?
But he does his best SCY times these days in exhibitions associated with NCAA dual meets. Maybe he swims in a last chance meet for guys trying to make NCAAs and goes :49.26. After losing a few more pounds. Right?
It would be funny if we saw Germonprez go 49.6 to win the NCAA title then we see Mathias go 49.4 during one of the breaks
Actually that wouldn’t be a bad idea. To have some of the pros race at NCAA’s during breaks whether they would want to or not want to rest would be irrelevant but to have them race during would be very exciting to watch.
Modglin , Van, Karhun , Alexy ..
2028 Medley relay WR
52.0, 58.2, 49.6, 46.6
Im picking the 18 year old who went 58.9 last year…
Yall keep saying McKean is our next relay breastroker, I’m saying this guy
McKean is both younger and better in long course but….remember the good old days when the US could just have two good swimmers in the same event??
I like the idea of the competition.
But but but relay names guys
Both former butterfliers. I’m still waiting for my latent breaststroke abilities to unlock in my 40s.
Leon has unlocked the pipeline for all of us. Spent 10 years as a butterflier, but the only PBs I set my senior year of college were in breaststroke. Dropped 6 seconds in my 100 in that one season
Swammer – Is your real name Van?
Watched it happen from the deck and it was amazing! The whole pool was going nuts!
Is he still director of ops at IU? If so that impressive to balance it all.
YOOOOOOOOO!!!! YOOOOOOOOOO LETS GOO
US BREASTSTROKE MAY NOT BE COOKED
What’s the total pro roster at IU looking like? Matheny, Brooks, King, Benzing… any others? Just Peplowski on the womens side right now?
I’m wondering where Luke Barr is training. Is he actually with Stickels or just repping them?
He’s with Stickels. One of our writers is a coach at TFA and accidentally tripped him into the pool on Wednesday lol.
ha, got it.