2026 U.S. Short Course World Championship Trials
The heat sheet is out for the 2nd finals session of the 2026 short course World Trials, and the biggest name on the scratch report is Indiana’s Van Mathias dropping the 50 freestyle final, where he was the 5th seed.
Mathias likely scratched the final to focus on the men’s 100 breaststroke, where he is the top seed after breaking the American record in the preliminaries with his 55.48.
Shortly after that swim, he raced the 50 freestyle prelims where he qualified 5th after touching the wall in 20.87, about two tenths behind Chris Guiliano‘s 20.63. Jack Alexy (20.66), Ilya Kharun (20.73), and Caeleb Dressel (20.84) all came in ahead of him as well.
His scratch moved Indiana Swim Club teammate Matt King into the ‘A’ final after he took 9th in prelims with his 21.19.
All Day 2 Finals Scratches
Women’s 200 breast
Men’s 100 breast
Men’s 50 free
Women’s 100 IM
