{"id":656346,"date":"2026-10-30T03:00:23","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T10:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=656346"},"modified":"2026-10-30T05:10:02","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T12:10:02","slug":"u-s-short-course-trials-van-mathias-still-wondering-does-the-van-makes-the-mustache-or-the-mustache-makes-the-van","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/u-s-short-course-trials-van-mathias-still-wondering-does-the-van-makes-the-mustache-or-the-mustache-makes-the-van\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Short Course Trials: Van Mathias Still Wondering ‘Does the Van Makes the Mustache or the Mustache Makes the Van?”"},"content":{"rendered":"

U.S. Short Course Trials: Van Mathias Still Wondering ‘Does the Van Makes the Mustache or the Mustache Makes the Van?”<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

When Van Mathias<\/strong> was warming up, fans were shouting toward him.<\/p>\n

More wanted to talk about his mustache than his swimming.<\/p>\n

But since Mathias grew his mustache, he has become one of the world’s best swimmers – not too long after thinking his career was over.<\/p>\n

So does the Van make the mustache or does the mustache make the Van?<\/p>\n

“That is the question we are still trying to figure out. I started out with this stache because I hated having a naked upper lip,” Mathias said. “I didn’t want to shave it for swimming.”<\/p>\n

It has become a part of his persona. During the Pan Pacific Championships in August, fans were passing out mini mustaches on a stick.<\/p>\n

“I think it’s fun. The crowd gets into it. My girlfriend likes it. So I think it is going to stay for a while” he said.<\/p>\n

Well, you have to stick with what works.<\/p>\n

The mustachioed Mathias broke the world record<\/a> in the 100 breaststroke (SCM) Thursday, Oct. 29, at the USA Swimming Short Course World Championships Trials in Westmont, Illinois.<\/p>\n

He had set the American record during prelims.<\/p>\n

“We just wanted to come back faster on the second 50 tonight. Some of the details were still a little sloppy. I got caught up in the atmosphere of racing. I think there is more to clean up, but I am really happy with that swim,” he said.<\/p>\n

It will definitely be something to talk about around the water cooler at work for the swimmer “on the side.”<\/p>\n

“I have a busy couple of weeks in the office coming up. I am going to use that as a reset,” he said. “I am excited about Beijing, not putting too much pressure on myself.”<\/p>\n

Mathias went a 55.14 and still has other events to go in Westmont.<\/p>\n

“I am actually happy there will be a target on my back,” Van Mathias said. “It is not that different in meters, just a couple more strokes. Short course meters is a new adventure.”<\/p>\n