Indiana University Athletics
10/29/2026 8:38:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Olympics
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Van is the standard.
Indiana swimming and diving alum, director operations and pro athlete Van Mathias broke the 100-meter breaststroke world record Thursday (Oct. 29) night at USA Swimming Short Course World Championship Trials inside the FMC Natatorium in Westmont, California.
Mathias touched in 55.14 and eclipsed Belarusian Ilya Shymanovich's previous world record of 55.28 from 2021. In prelims Thursday morning, Mathias set the American and U.S. Open records with a time of 55.48 and has now set the national standard in both the short course and long course 100m breaststroke events. Between Mathias and former IU swimmer Lilly King, Hoosiers own eight American records in breaststroke events.
It's Mathias' first individual world record, second overall. He helped the United States set the world standard in the 4x100-meter medley relay (3:36.70) this summer at the Pan Pacific Championships.
With Friday night's winning performance, Mathias will represent the United States at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) 2026, December 1-6 in Beijing.
Mathias was an All-American swimmer at IU from 2018-23 before becoming the program's director of operations ahead of its 2024-25 collegiate season. He returned to competitive swimming during the summer of 2025 and has set two world records and five American records since.
@IndianaSwimDive
Be sure to keep up with all the latest news on the Indiana men's and women's swimming and diving teams on social media – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
#NeverDaunted
Indiana swimming and diving alum, director operations and pro athlete Van Mathias broke the 100-meter breaststroke world record Thursday (Oct. 29) night at USA Swimming Short Course World Championship Trials inside the FMC Natatorium in Westmont, California.
Mathias touched in 55.14 and eclipsed Belarusian Ilya Shymanovich's previous world record of 55.28 from 2021. In prelims Thursday morning, Mathias set the American and U.S. Open records with a time of 55.48 and has now set the national standard in both the short course and long course 100m breaststroke events. Between Mathias and former IU swimmer Lilly King, Hoosiers own eight American records in breaststroke events.
It's Mathias' first individual world record, second overall. He helped the United States set the world standard in the 4x100-meter medley relay (3:36.70) this summer at the Pan Pacific Championships.
With Friday night's winning performance, Mathias will represent the United States at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) 2026, December 1-6 in Beijing.
Mathias was an All-American swimmer at IU from 2018-23 before becoming the program's director of operations ahead of its 2024-25 collegiate season. He returned to competitive swimming during the summer of 2025 and has set two world records and five American records since.
@IndianaSwimDive
Be sure to keep up with all the latest news on the Indiana men's and women's swimming and diving teams on social media – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
#NeverDaunted
Thursday, October 29
Thursday, October 29
Thursday, October 29
Thursday, October 29