2026 U.S. Short Course World Championship Trials
MEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS
- World Record: 55.28, Ilya Shymanovich (BLR) – 2021
American Record: 55.56, Nic Fink – 2021U.S. Open Record: 55.92, Adam Peaty (GBR) – 2019- Beijing ‘A’ Qualification Time: 57.38
Finalists:
- Van Mathias (ISC), 55.48 American, US Open Record
- Brian Benzing (TUS), 56.54
- Andy Dobrzanski (SUN), 57.59
- Noah Cakir (IU), 57.64
- Mitch Mason (TFA), 57.70
- Josh Bey (IU) / Charlie Egeland (TFA), 57.74
- –
- Chris O’Grady (SPAR), 58.45
US swimming fans will never get tired of this scene: Van Mathias delivering stellar results nearly every time he hits the water. In his first race of the 2026 US World Short Course Championship trials, Mathias picked up right where he left off in his stellar summer season, firing off a 55.48 to set a new American Record and jump to the 4th-fastest performer in the event’s history.
Mathias, who was on American Record watch all summer long during the long-course season, wasted no time proving why he is one of the most exciting swimmers on the planet in Westmont, taking down Nic Fink‘s five-year-old American Record of 55.56 and lowering Adam Peaty‘s 2019 US Open Record of 55.92.
The mustached superstar opened like a champion, hitting the halfway mark in 25.82, the only swimmer in the entire event prelims to swim under 26.1 to start. From there, the speed didn’t die down; he grew his lead with every stroke and came home in 29.66, the fastest final 50 of the field by more than half a second and the only final 50 split under 30 seconds.
That time moves him into the top of the world rankings this season, ahead of Russia’s Kirill Prigoda as the 4th-fastest performer in history, and only the 5th man ever to crack 55.50.
All-Time Fastest 100 Breaststroke SCM Performers
- Ilya Shymanovich (BLR) – 55.28 (2021)
- Adam Peaty (GBR) – 55.41 (2020)
- Qin Haiyang (CHN) – 55.47 (2024)
- Van Mathias (USA) – 55.48 (2026)
- Kirill Prigoda (RUS) – 55.49 (2025)
Entering this meet, Mathias’s lifetime best was 56.72 at last season’s World Cup in Carmel, making this his first time under 56 in his career.
He will be the top seed and heavy favorite to win this event later this evening at finals.
