Upper St. Clair swimmer qualifies for World Championships
Josh Matheny celebrates earning a spot on the United States swim team that will be competing July 14-30 in the World Championships in Japan.
Josh Matheny qualified in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke races for the 2023 World Aquatics Championships to be held July 14-30 in Japan.
Josh Matheny was a standout swimmer at Upper St. Clair High School before matriculating to Indiana University.
The American flags scattered throughout Josh Matheny’s home are not leftover decorations from a Fourth of July celebration. They are reminders of the Upper St. Clair native’s most recent achievement.
Matheny earned a spot on the United States swim team that will participate in the 2023 World Aquatics Championships being held July 14-30 in Japan. The 2021 USC graduate secured second places in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke races to clinch his position on the national roster.
“I remember back when I was 8 and watching the Olympics, rooting for the Team USA athletes and loving the idea of representing the country. I dreamed about it,” said the son of Jeff and Kristin Matheny. “This means the absolute world to me.”
For some time, Matheny has been a world-class competitor. He was a record-breaking scholastic swimmer, an Olympic Trials qualifier as well as a national and world champion at the Junior level, ages 18 and under.
“Now Josh is at the highest level for everyone,” said his former high school coach Dave Schraven. “There is a big difference. It’s not easy to get there and Josh has been knocking on the door for a while. He’s put a lot of work into this. He’s stuck with it. You can’t help but be so proud of him and hope that it’s a springboard for him.”
The World Championships are the equivalent to the Olympics, which are held every four years. The next Summer Olympic Games will be held in 2024 in Paris and in 2028 in Los Angeles.
By then, Matheny will be hitting his prime. He is just 20 years old while the country’s top breaststroker, Nic Fink, turned 30 on July 3.
An American and world record holder, Fink is a five-time world champion. He won the 50 and 100 breaststroke events at the 2023 National Championships held June 27-July 1 in Indianapolis.
On June 30, Matheny finished runner-up to Fink in the 100. Matheny clocked a personal best time of 59.20, which was off Fink’s winning pace of 58.36.
“Obviously the goal in each meet, especially a big meet, is to go a best time,” Matheny said. “To make the team, was all I could ask for. I couldn’t be more happy.”
Matheny was equally thrilled with his performance in the 200 event. His silver-medal performance earned him his first spot on the national team. Only the top two American swimmers in the event qualify for the international competition.
“It is unbelievably hard to make this team and for this dream to come to fruition is unreal,” Matheny said.
In finishing second in the 200, Matheny shattered Cody Miller’s record with a time of 2:08.3. Miller was a gold and bronze medalist at the 2016 Summer Olympics and a former world record holder. He also swam at Indiana University, Matheny’s current college club.
“Cody has had a huge, positive impact on my career and guiding me to my goals,” Matheny admitted, “but I wasn’t worried about the record. I just wanted to get my hand to the wall faster. Getting the record was the cherry on top.”
In the 200, Matheny finished runner-up to Matt Fallon, 20. An Ivy League champion, representing the University of Pennsylvania, Fallon was the national champion last year, but he did not participate in the NCAA championships because of a back injury. Fallon won the 200 with a 2:07.71 time.
“Matt is a good friend of mine and I was glad to see his success,” Matheny said. “His third 50 is incredible.
“I’d love to say yes, the race went as I expected but races never go perfectly. That is why we train. There were a couple things that didn’t go right but my practices and dedication allowed me to fix things mid-race and I got a good result at the end.”
Determination and a great finishing kick typically combine for a positive result for Matheny. His final 25 meters typically are the fastest portion of his races. At nationals, he dubbed them “spectacular” because he was behind in both events.
“I think that comes from the mental approach we have and training, which at IU is borderline psychotic,” Matheny said. “I love to race and I seem to turn it on and blast out at the end. It’s developed my confidence. In the last 25, I’m going to beat you. I don’t know if it’s true but I have that confidence.”
Early signs
As Matheny came up through the ranks, Schraven noticed that drive. It enabled Matheny to become the best scholastic breaststroke specialist in the history of state swimming. Matheny was a four-time WPIAL and PIAA champion while competing at Upper St. Clair High School. He also set the national high school marks for the 100-yard breaststroke. In addition, Matheny was a gold and silver medalist in the 2019 World Junior Championships held in Budapest.
“Josh digs deep down. He wants to get to the wall first,” Schraven said. “He always had that ability to close out a race. He finds another level.
Schraven watched Matheny’s races on NBC’s Peacock Network. While yelling at his television set, Schraven knew from counting strokes that his former charge was on his way to Worlds.
“Having worked with him as closely over the years, I could tell Josh was dialed in. With his tempo and the way he looked, I thought, ‘He’s got this.’ Josh has had a lot of success and he’s gaining more experience and confidence at the highest level. It was one thing to go into meets at 17 in that environment and becoming one of the best in the world at only 20. It takes a while to get your footing but Josh has earned it.”
After his success at USC, Matheny quickly tweaked his stroke at Indiana University, which not only transformed Miller but Lily King into a world champion. King was a triple breaststroke winner at the national championships and will join Matheny in Japan. With King as a workout partner, Matheny became an All-American as well as an NCAA medalist.
“Lily, just like Cody, has been an amazing role model. She and I are very much alike. Goofy but with a serious switch that we can turn on,” Matheny said.
In the water, the Hoosiers excel at training. The time of year and day determine workouts but all practice sessions are intense. Some days are heavy on speed and detail and the mileage could only range from 3,000 to 3,500 meters while peak distance practices could measure 5,500 to 7,500.
“Sometimes the lower mileage practices are more intense. It’s a good balance,” Matheny added. “It allows you to become a more complete swimmer.”
Because he is only a rising junior, Matheny has much more swimming ahead. However, the focus is on the World Championships in Japan. Currently his 200 breast time is off the American record of 2:07.17 set by Josh Prenot in 2011 and the world mark of 2:05.95 held by Zac Stubblety-Cook of Australia. Britain’s Adam Peaty, 28, is the world record holder in the 100 and a two-time Olympic gold medalist.
“Josh excels at both but he has more of an opportunity in the 200 right now internationally,” Schraven said. “He still has room for improvement and time to drop but anything is possible. He’s not far out of the top.”
The experience, however, is what is most important for Matheny, who aspires to making the 2024 U.S. Olympic team as well as possibly medaling in the 2028 Summer Games.
Thus Worlds are a “positive step” in that direction.
“It’s easy to say he’ll qualify because making this world championship team is the same criteria. Top two competitors; the people he needs to beat all will be there. This will really help drive his training, especially for the next 11 months and knowing this is his to lose,” Schraven said.
Matheny has his goals and expectations in perspective.
“Obviously, this meet and the Olympics are the gold standard of swimming. It’s freeing to finally know that you made that meet. It’s a huge boost to your confidence and the next rung on the ladder is to medal but I’m just looking for this meet to be a good learning experience with perhaps another best time. That would be fantastic.
“I’m going to keep my eyes and ears open so I can learn as much as possible. As a first-time qualifier, there’s so much to manage: emotions, the experience of traveling and being able to understand what’s happening.”
Matheny has never been to Asia. Hence, is looking forward to experiencing the culture.
“Since I found out I will be going to Japan, I haven’t stopped smiling. It’s been ear to ear,” Matheny said. “I’m so excited to be in that part of the world. It’s going to be eye opening.
“This means the absolute world to me. In addition to the learning experience, I am looking forward to racing with the flag on my cap the most. I’m just so proud to wear it.”