2025-26 Men's Swimming & Diving Roster
Biography
Accolades
- 1x U.S. National Team member:
At Cal
2024-25 (Jr.)
- Swam in seven meets as a junior
- Earned five first-place finishes during the season
- Clocked the second-fastest time in program history in the 1000 free against USC (8:45.81)
- Notched the seventh-fastest time in program history in the 1650 free at the SMU Last Chance Invitational (14:49.02)
2023-24 (So.)
- Competed at the 2023 Phillips 66 National Championships
2022-23 (Fr.)
- Swam in three meets as a freshman
- Earned a fifth-place finish in the 1650 free at the Pac-12 Championships
National (USA)
- Won the 400m free (3:54.78), 800m free (8:05.12) & 1500m free (15:24.52) while representing Team USA at 2022 Mel Zajac Jr. International Swim Meet in Vancouver, Canada
- Earned spot on USA Swimming's Mel Zajac Jr. International Swim Meet roster after impressive showing at Phillips 66 International Team Trials
- 5th in 1500m free (15:16.42)
- 7th in 800m free (8:03.44)
- 17th 400m free (3:53.75)
- Qualified for 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials Wave II in 400m free, 800m free & 1500m free
- Placed 26th in 1500m free (15:48.93) & 43rd in 800 free (8:18.80)
Before Cal
High School/Club
- Graduated from Sonora High School (La Habra, California) in spring 2022
- Transferred to Sonora HS for senior year following three years spent at Diamond Bar High School (Diamond Bar, California)
- Swam for Fullerton Aquatics Sports Team (FAST) under Brian Brown
- 2022 CIF state champion in the 500 free (4:15.09)
- Placed 6th in 200 free (1:38.63) at 2022 CIF State Championships
- Two-time champion at 2022 CIF Southern Section Division II Championships, winning the 200 free (1:37.42) & 500 free (4:15.91)
- His 4:15.91 in 500 free at CIF-SS DII Championships broke a 39-year-old record, held by Olympian Jeff Kostoff since 1983
- Named 2022 Orange County Register Boys Swimmer of the Year
- Three victories in 500 free (4:17.46), 1000 free (8:51.61) & 1650 free (15:05.02) at 2022 Speedo Sectionals-Carlsbad
- Claimed the 1650 free title (14:45.37) at 2021 Speedo Winter Junior Championships-West
- Personal SCY bests upon arriving at Cal include:
- 500 free – 4:15.09
- 100 free – 8:51.61
- 1650 free – 14:45.37
- Two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American
Personal
- Full name is Matthew Dave Chai
- Born on Nov. 28, 2003 in Fullerton, California
- Son of Dave Chai & Joanna Chiang
Historical Player Information
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2022-23Freshman
Free
6'2"
180 lbs
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2024-25Junior
Free
6'2"
180 lbs
-
2025-26Senior
Free
6'2"
180 lbs
