By Sean Griffin on SwimSwam
2026 Bergen Swim Festival
Friday, April 17th – Sunday, April 19th Prelims at 9:00am local (3:00am ET)/Finals at 6pm local (Noon ET) Bergen, Norway Alexander Dale Oen (AdO) Arena, Bergen (50m Olympic pool) Meet Central SwimSwam Preview Entries Live ResultsWith night one of the 2026 Bergen Swim Festival less than an hour away, Indiana-trained Van Mathias made his presence known early in this morning’s 100 breaststroke heats.
Mathias scorched a lifetime best of 58.98, demolishing his previous mark of 59.45 from the Austin Pro Swim Series in January and leading the field by nearly two seconds heading into tonight’s final.
The 25-year-old opened in 27.28 and closed in 31.70 to become the 38th-fastest performer in history and the 8th-best American of all time.
Top American Men’s LCM 100 Breast Performers All-Time:
Michael Andrew — 58.14 (2021) Nic Fink — 58.36 (2023) Kevin Cordes — 58.64 (2017) Andrew Wilson — 58.74 (2021) Cody Miller — 58.87 (2016) Eric Shanteau — 58.96 (2009) Campbell McKean — 58.96 (2025) Van Mathias — 58.98 (2026)* Mark Gangloff — 59.01 (2009) Brendan Hansen — 59.13 (2006)Compared to his previous PB splits, Mathias opened right on par with the 27.32 he swam en route to 59.45, but closed nearly half a second faster than his previous 32.13.
He now ranks equal fourth in the world standings, with the final still to come.
2025-2026 LCM Men 100 BREAST
SHINJPNOHASHI 03/19WJR 58.672SimoneCERASUOLOITA58.8204/153AdamPeatyGBR58.9704/144Van Mathias USA58.9804/174HaiyangQIN CHN58.9811/11View Top 46»Notably, Mathias’ new PB would have placed second at the 2025 U.S. World Championship Trials, just two one-hundredths behind rising star Campbell McKean, and makes him the third-fastest active American swimmer, though Michael Andrew’s fastest over the past four years has been 59.52.
After primarily being a mid-distance butterfly specialist his whole career, Mathias switched up his training during his fifth year and became an NCAA All-American for Indiana in sprint free and breaststroke. He earned his best-ever NCAA finish with a runner-up performance in the 100 breast, along with a 22.53 50 breast split that ranks among the fastest in history. After that year, Mathias stepped away from competing and became IU Swimming’s Director of Operations.
However, this past June, when Mathias and the IU coaching staff saw the results from the U.S. Trials, they all thought that Mathias could be up there with the best. Eight weeks of training later and Mathias competed at U.S. Nationals in Irvine, qualifying for the Pan Pacific Championship team with a 26.76 win in the 50 breast.
Since the beginning of last summer, Mathias has dropped from 29.63 to 26.57 in the 50 breast, ranking third all-time among Americans and 14th all-time globally, while also lowering his 100 breast best all the way down from 1:03.90.
Mathias continues to be the Director of Ops for IU swimming and is training on the side.
Read the full story on SwimSwam: Van Mathias Scorches 58.98 in 100 Breast Heats at Bergen Swim Festival, Now #8 American All-Time
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