Van Mathias: From Junior Swimmer to Senior National Team Star

In 2018, Van Mathias, a then 17-year-old from Beaverton, Oregon, swam for the U.S. junior national team at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Fiji. Fast forward to today, and Mathias debuts on the U.S. senior national team at the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, California.

During the interim, Mathias swam five seasons at Indiana University, retired from competitive swimming, and became the director of operations for the Hoosiers swim and dive program. He returned to the sport two years later, transitioning his focus from the butterfly and individual medley to sprint breaststroke, becoming the fastest in U.S. history in this category.

At these Pan Pacs, Mathias will wear a national team swim cap with his last name and the American flag. Previously, at the 2018 Junior Pan Pacs, his cap only displayed the flag, as names are reserved for senior national team members. Mathias expressed pride in this, saying, “You grow up watching swimming, the biggest stars have their name on the cap.”

His journey from the Tokyo Olympic Trials, where he placed 41st and 48th in butterfly events, evolved profoundly. Before his final collegiate season in 2022-23, he converted to breaststroke and took second place in the 100-yard breast at the NCAAs. After initially considering retirement, Mathias received a call from his former Indiana head coach, Ray Looze, encouraging him to return as the director of operations.

Returning to Bloomington, Mathias engaged in weightlifting with guidance from his mother and uncle, both former bodybuilders, increasing his weight from 200 to 235 pounds. This renewed strength piqued his curiosity about swimming again. Training with associate head coaches John Long, Jr., and Cory Chitwood showed promise, despite little prior training.

At the 2025 USA Swimming National Championships, discussions with Looze and Long identified an opportunity in the added 50m breast event at the 2028 Olympics. Following this, Mathias resumed competitive swimming, posting the year’s fastest American 50m breast time and qualifying for the Pan Pacs. By 2026, he broke American records in the 50m and 100m breast events.

Mathias, speaking on his approach, remarked, “I tell myself that work is hard, swimming is easy.” He views swimming as a personal pursuit amidst professional duties. His training, following the high-intensity, less-is-more strategy of Australian swimmer Cam McEvoy, fits around his job’s demands.

Van Mathias’s week at the Pan Pacific Championships includes races in the 50m fly, 100m breast, 50m breast, and 50m freestyle. Despite the accolades and personal growth, Mathias remains focused on daily progress and not fixated on Olympic aspirations. He maintains that keeping daily tasks in perspective is essential for future success.