Youngest American to break two minutes in the 200m backstroke at the age of 15.
Aaron Peirsol Trivia -
Beijing Olympic.
Aug 11 2008 - 100m Backstroke GOLD [world record 52.54]
Aaron Peirsol wins Men's 100m Backstroke GOLD [world record 52.54]
Aaron Peirsol Detailed Biography -
Aaron Wells Peirsol (born July 23, 1983 in Irvine, California) is an American competitive swimmer. He is best known for sweeping the gold medals in the backstroke at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. He also won the gold medal in the 100 m backstroke at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.
Aaron Peirsol was born on July 23, 1983 in Orange, Calif to Tim Hartig and Wela Peirsol. The 2003 NCAA Swimmer of the Year after setting four NCAA, American, U.S. Open and school records as well as winning four titles and earning six NCAA All-America honors and one NCAA All-America Honorable Mention award. Set a new American, NCAA, U.S. Open and school record in the prelims of the 200-yard backstroke at the NCAA Championships (3/27-29) with a time of 1:40.01. Broke his own American, NCAA, U.S. Open and school record in the finals of the 200-yard backstroke at the NCAA Championships when he became the first person ever to go under 1:40.00 in the event with a time of 1:39.16. Aaron has just won the Men's 100m Backstroke Gold Medal in Athens 2004 Olympics.
High performances :
1999: Pan-Am Games - 2nd 200m backstroke (1:59.77)
2000: Olympic Games - 2nd 200m backstroke (1:57.35)
2001: LC World Championships - 1st 200m backstroke (1:57.13), 10th 100m backstroke (55.89)
2002: SC World Championships - 1st 200m backstroke (1:51.17, WR), 2nd 100m backstroke (51.71), 1st 4x100m medley relay (3:29.00, WR), Pan Pacs - 1st 100m backstroke (54.22), 1st 200m backstroke (1:56.88), 1st 4x100m medley relay (3:33.48, WR)
2003: LC World Championships - 1st 100m backstroke (53.61), 1st 200m backstroke (1:55.92), 8th 50m backstroke (25.75), 1st 4x100m medley relay (3:31.54, World Record), 2nd 4x200m free relay (7:10.26)
Personal best times :
Long course (50m) - 100m backstroke: 53.61 (2003); 200m backstroke: 1:55.92 (2003)
World Rankings (50m) : 1998: 20th 200m backstroke
1999: 57th 100m backstroke, 10th 200m backstroke
2000: 79th 50m backstroke, 8th 100m backstroke, 2nd 200m backstroke, 111th 200m Ind. medley
2001: 67th 50m backstroke, 4th 100m backstroke, 1st 200m backstroke
