Aaron Peirsol

Aaron Peirsol

Personal information
Full name	Aaron Peirsol
Nationality	United States
Height	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Backstroke
Medal record Men’s Swimming Representing United States Olympic Games 2000 Sydney 200 m Backstroke 2004 Athens 100 m Backstroke 2004 Athens 200 m Backstroke 2004 Athens 4x100 m Medley 2008 Beijing 100 m Backstroke 2008 Beijing 200 m Backstroke World Championships 2001 Fukuoka 200 m Backstroke 2003 Barcelona 100 m Backstroke 2003 Barcelona 200 m Backstroke 2003 Barcelona 4x100 m Medley 2003 Barcelona 4x200 m Freestyle 2005 Montreal 100 m Backstroke 2005 Montreal 200 m Backstroke 2005 Montreal 4x100 m Medley 2007 Melbourne 100 m Backstroke 2007 Melbourne 200 m Backstroke World Championships - Short Course 2004 Indianapolis 100 m Backstroke 2004 Indianapolis 200 m Backstroke 2004 Indianapolis 4x100 m Medley 2002 Moscow 100 m Backstroke 2002 Moscow 200 m Backstroke 2002 Moscow 4x100 m Freestyle 2002 Moscow 4x200 m Freestyle 2002 Moscow 4x100 m Medley Pan American Games Winnipeg 1999 200 m Backstroke Pan Pacific Championships 2006 Victoria 100 m Backstroke 2006 Victoria 200 m Backstroke 2006 Victoria 4x100 m Medley

Aaron Wells Peirsol (born July 23, 1983 in Irvine, California) is an Olympic-level swimmer and from the United States of America. Peirsol participated in the 2000 Summer Olympics, 2004 Summer Olympics, and 2008 Summer Olympics, capturing a total of six medals. He is best known for sweeping the gold medals in the backstroke at the Athens games. Peirsol has also won the world championships in the 100 meter backstroke in 2003, 2005 and 2007, and won 200 meter backstroke in 2001, 2003 and 2005.

Biography

Peirsol is a student-athlete at the University of Texas, although he considers Newport Beach, California, home. Aaron and his sister's first swim team was at the NCMY (Newport Costa Mesa YMCA). After leaving NCMY, he trained with the Irvine NovAquatics. He trains with fellow world record holders and gold medalists Ian Crocker, Brendan Hansen, and Neil Walker under the guidance of Eddie Reese. Aaron is also known for his diversity in events other than backstroke such as butterfly and middle distance freestyle.

His younger sister, Hayley Peirsol, is a top swimmer at Auburn University.

2000 Summer Olympic Games

See also: Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics

2000 Summer Olympics Events
Medal count: 1 (0 gold, 1 silver, 0 bronze)
Date	Event	Final Time	Place
September 21	200 m Backstroke	1:57.35	2nd

2004 Summer Olympic Games

See also: Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics

2004 Summer Olympics Events
Medal count: 3 (3 gold, 0 silver, 0 bronze)
Date	Event	Final Time	Place
August 14	200 m Backstroke	1:54.95 OR	1st
August 16	100 m Backstroke	54.06	1st
August 21	4x100 m Medley	3:30.68 WR	1st

• WR: World Record; OR: Olympic Record

After winning gold in the 100 m backstroke, he followed up by winning the 200 m event, but an initial disqualification alleged that he had made an illegal turn during the race. Having been improperly entered, the disqualification was overturned, giving Peirsol his second individual gold.

At the 2007 World Championships, Peirsol lowered his own 100 m Backstroke record to 52.98, and in doing so became the first man under 53 seconds. At one point during the first 50 meters Peirsol was a full meter behind Ryan Lochte, but Peirsol's final 25 meters was enough to over-take Lochte at the finish.

2008 Summer Olympic Games

See also: Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics

2008 Summer Olympics Events
Medal count: 2 (1 gold, 1 silver, 0 bronze)
Date	Event	Final Time	Place
August 12	100 m Backstroke	52.54 WR	1st
August 15	200 m Backstroke	1:54.33	2nd

• WR: World Record

In the finals at the Beijing Olympics, Peirsol won the gold medal in the 100 meter backstroke with a world record of 52.54. This was the fifth time he set a world record in the event. Peirsol has been undefeated in a 100 meter backstroke final since the 2002 Spring Nationals.

Video Interviews

• Floswimming Videos of Aaron Peirsol

External links

• Aaron Peirsol at Team USA (archived)
• Biography at USA Swimming
• 20 Questions with Aaron Peirsol at USA Swimming
• Aaron Peirsol's Race for the Oceans
• Videos & Results on SwimPassion.net

Template:Persondata