Did you miss the electrifying moments from Day 2 of the 2026 Austin Pro Swim Series? If you think you’ve seen it all, think again! From record-breaking performances to surprising comebacks, this day was packed with action that’s sure to spark debate among swimming enthusiasts. But here’s where it gets controversial—some of these swims might just challenge your expectations of who’s leading the pack.
The 2026 Pro Swim Series in Austin, Texas, held from January 14-17, 2026, at the iconic Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center, showcased some of the most thrilling performances in long course meters (LCM). For those who want to dive deeper, the Psych Sheet (updated as of January 12, 2026) is available here, and you can catch up on How to Watch here. Don’t forget to check out the Live Results here and detailed Live Recaps for both Prelims and Finals on Day 1 and Day 2.
Van Mathias stole the spotlight on Day 2, proving his breaststroke dominance by securing the #1 spot globally in the 50m breast this season with a stunning 26.57. What’s even more remarkable? He achieved this just six months after his return to competitive swimming. Now ranked as the #3 American in history, trailing only Nic Fink (26.45) and Michael Andrew (26.52), Mathias is rewriting the record books. But here’s the kicker—he wasn’t the only one shaking up the rankings.
Right behind Mathias in the heats was Finn Brooks, another Indiana University alum, who blasted a massive personal best of 27.05. To put this in perspective, his previous best of 28.69 was set 18 months ago, but his recent performance is a testament to his rapid improvements in short course. Last fall, Brooks turned heads on the World Cup Tour with a blistering 25.75 in the 50m, and his Austin time narrowly missed qualifying for Worlds at last summer’s U.S. Nationals. This swim also catapults him to 8th all-time among U.S. men and 7th in the world this year. And this is the part most people miss—his progression suggests he’s far from done climbing the ranks.
Here’s how the 2025-2026 LCM Men’s 50 Breast rankings look:
- Van Mathias (USA) - 26.57
- Michael Houlie (RSA) - 26.72
- Haiyang Qin (CHN) - 26.75
- Yan Zibei (CHN) - 26.86
- Zheng Yinghao (CHN) - 26.97
- Shin Ohashi (JPN) - 27.01
- Finn Brooks (USA) - 27.05
- Campbell McKean (USA) - 27.10
- Choi Dongyeol (KOR) - 27.11
- Reo Okura (JPN) - 27.16
For the full rankings, visit here.
Mitch Mason, competing in just his second meet in two and a half years, dropped a new personal best of 27.34 in the 50 breast, securing 2nd place in the semi-finals. This shaved 0.04 seconds off his June 2023 best and places him joint-21st among U.S. men, alongside Matthew Jensen. It’s a remarkable comeback story that raises the question: Can Mason sustain this momentum?
Emma Weyant continued her stellar performance in the 200m IM, slicing half a second off her semi-final time with a 2:14.23. Her final 50 split of 30.71 was particularly impressive, and with a bit more front-end speed, she could drop even more time. Notably, her second 100 split was just three-tenths slower than Summer McIntosh’s. Weyant has now shaved over a second off her former best of 2:15.36, leaving fans wondering how much further she can go.
In the 50m free, both Anna Peplowski and Claire Weinstein—typically known for longer freestyle events—set personal bests. Peplowski followed her 100m back best time from Day 1 with a 25.14, placing 4th and lowering her previous best of 25.29. Weinstein, meanwhile, improved her day-old best from 25.87 to 25.53. Her versatility is on full display, especially after her 53.72 in the 100m and 16:01.96 in the 1500m last summer. But here’s the controversial part—are we underestimating their sprinting potential?
Patrick Sammon delivered a breakout performance in the 100m fly, slashing his time from 54.90 to 53.54. Known for his freestyle prowess, Sammon’s foray into off-events in Austin has been nothing short of impressive. Could this be the start of a new chapter in his career?
Becca Mann, who swam her fastest 1500m since returning to competition 12 months ago after a six-year hiatus, followed up with a 4:18.92 in the 400m free heats. This time is just 3.5 seconds off her 2019 Pan American Games performance, leaving fans to speculate: How close is she to reclaiming her peak form?
Similarly, Ryan Erisman dominated the 400m free final with a stunning 3:46.75, just 0.74 seconds off his personal best from last summer. His even splits of 1:52.92 and 1:53.83 highlight his consistency. But the real question is—can he break his own record later this year?
Ilia Sibirtsev nearly matched his lifetime best and Uzbek Record of 3:48.26 from last summer, clocking a 3:49.01. Despite being slightly slower in both the opening and closing 200m, the former Louisville Cardinal appears poised to reset his record. But here’s the debate—is he peaking too early, or is this just the beginning?
Final Thoughts: Day 2 of the Austin Pro Swim Series was a rollercoaster of emotions, with swimmers pushing boundaries and challenging expectations. But here’s the burning question: Who do you think will dominate the rankings by the end of the season? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s spark some friendly debate!
