Matt Fallon Sets 100m Breaststroke World Record at US Trials

American swimmer Matt Fallon set a stunning world record overnight in the men's 100-meter breaststroke, clocking 55.14 seconds in a short-course pool (25 meters) at the US World Championship trials in Westmont, Illinois. Fallon shaved 14 hundredths of a second off the previous record of 55.28 seconds, set by Belarus's Ilya Shymanovich in November 2021.

Fallon hinted at his stellar form during the preliminaries by posting an American record of 55.48 seconds, before lowering the mark by another 34 hundredths in the final. He split 25.76 seconds at the 50-meter mark and powered through the second half in 29.38 seconds, claiming victory by more than a second over Brian Benzing, who finished second with 56.23 seconds.

This marks the first individual world record of Fallon's career, highlighting an extraordinary comeback. After graduating from Indiana University, he served as the director of operations for the university's swimming program, returning to competitive racing only in the summer of 2025. Since his return, he has broken national records and contributed to a medley relay world record.

Named US Swimmer of the Year in September, Fallon has officially secured his spot at the Short Course World Championships, scheduled to take place in Beijing from December 1 to 6.