Upper St. Clair’s Matheny to compete in World Aquatics Championships
Josh Matheny of Upper St. Clair is preparing for another summer to remember.
One year after traveling to Paris to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics, Matheny is bound for Southeast Asia.
Currently, he is attending training camp in Thailand before he heads to Singapore to compete in the World Aquatics Championships. He is one of over 2,500 athletes participating in the event, running from July 11 through Aug. 3, and including several disciplines of swimming, water polo, diving, artistic swimming and open water competition.
Metered swimming races take place July 26-Aug. 3. After qualifying heats, the 100 breaststroke finals will take place at 7 A.M. (Eastern Time) on July 28 and the 200 breast finals will be held Aug. 1. Matheny is entered in both events.
“As far as expectations, I am just looking to perform the best I can,” Matheny enthused. “Hopefully win some medals for the US.”
Matheny qualified for his third World Championships during the Toyota National Championships held June 3-7 at the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis,
Matheny won the 200 in 2:08.87, edging out AJ Pouch, who grabbed second in 2:09.71. He secured second place in the 100.
“I am excited to represent the USA for the third year in a row,” said Matheny. “It’s always an honor to have the flag on my cap.”
Matheny was most pleased with his 200 performance. He stuck to his winning formula. He took the lead early and stayed there.
“I like to swim from ahead,” he said. “At the turn at 150, I wanted to be first and whatever happens in the last 50 happens.”
Matheny expects his experience from last year’s Olympics in Paris will help him in Singapore. Matheny finished seventh in the 200 breast with a time of 2:09.52. Léon Marchand of France won the gold with a time of 2:05.85, an Olympic record.
“I learned that you always have to stay confident and true to the way you like to swim because it’s usually the best for you,” he said.
Throughout his scholastic career at Upper St. Clair, Matheny has always been the best.
He won four WPIAL titles in the 100-yard breast and led the Panthers to a WPIAL team championship. At the PIAA meet his senior year, Matheny won three gold medals, including the 100-yard breaststroke title for the fourth year in a row with a NFHS and state record time of 51.84 seconds. He was named Swimmer of the Meet as well as 2021 Almanac/Observer-Reporter Male Athlete of the Year.
During his club swimming years, Matheny became the U.S. national champion in the 200-meter breaststroke, shattering the 15-16 age group record. After that first big win on a national stage, he went on to compete in the World Junior Championships in Budapest, Hungary. He won gold medals in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke events and added a silver in the 4×100 medley relay.
For the past four years, Matheny has competed at Indiana University. As a Hoosiers, he has claimed multiple All-America honors. He has also accumulated a plethora of medals, including gold, during the Big Ten championships as well as the NCAA finals.