Indiana University Athletics
Mathias Honored for Record-Breaking Season
9/26/2026 10:30:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Olympics
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana swimming and diving alum, director operations and pro athlete Van Mathias was honored with two awards from the USA Swimming community Saturday (Sept. 26) night at the annual Golden Goggle Awards.
USA Swimming named Mathias its Male Athlete of the Year after a record-setting breakout season. Mathias set one world record, three American records and won five medals at the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships – his first senior international meet.
Mathias was also one of four athletes recognized for the Relay Performance of the Year, honoring that world record performance. At Pan Pacs, Will Modglin, Mathias, Gretchen Walsh and Kate Douglass set broke the world standard in the mixed 4x100-meter medley by almost a second with a winning time of 3:36.70. Mathias split a 57.3 on the breaststroke leg.
Mathias also set Americans records in both the 50-meter breaststroke and 100-meter breaststroke this summer. Between Mathias and former IU swimmer Lilly King, Hoosiers own seven American records in breaststroke events.
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.
@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
USA Swimming named Mathias its Male Athlete of the Year after a record-setting breakout season. Mathias set one world record, three American records and won five medals at the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships – his first senior international meet.
Mathias was also one of four athletes recognized for the Relay Performance of the Year, honoring that world record performance. At Pan Pacs, Will Modglin, Mathias, Gretchen Walsh and Kate Douglass set broke the world standard in the mixed 4x100-meter medley by almost a second with a winning time of 3:36.70. Mathias split a 57.3 on the breaststroke leg.
Mathias also set Americans records in both the 50-meter breaststroke and 100-meter breaststroke this summer. Between Mathias and former IU swimmer Lilly King, Hoosiers own seven American records in breaststroke events.
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.
@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
Sunday, September 27
Saturday, September 26
Saturday, September 26
Saturday, September 26