Upper St. Clair Native Josh Matheny Makes U.S. Olympic Swim Team

UPPER ST. CLAIR, PA — Just three years ago, Josh Matheny was swimming for his high school team. Now the Indiana University student is off to the Paris Olympics next month.

Matheny, a 2021 Upper St. Clair High School graduate, finished second in the 200-meter breaststroke Wednesday at the U.S. Olympic Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Matheny now will be a part of Team USA at the Olympics. The opening ceremony is on July 26.

Matheny told the IndyStar that he felt "pure joy."

“I looked up at the (scoreboard) and like totally forgot where I was,” he said. “It took like a full minute to register."

Matheny's performance Wednesday made up for the disappointment of his third-place finish in the 100 breaststroke earlier in the trials. Only the top two individual event finishers qualify for the Olympic team.

According to his Indiana University biography, Matheny earned four letters while swimming at Upper St. Clair for coaches Dave Schraven and Mike Densmore. He was a two-time 200-yard medley relay state champion and a 2021 district team champion.

Matheny broke national 15-16 age group records in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke events and was the 200-yard breaststroke World Junior Champion.