Aaron Peirsol

Aaron Wells Peirsol (born July 23, 1983) is a former American swimmer who specialized in the backstroke. He is a three-time Olympian and seven-time Olympic medalist (five gold, two silver). As part of the American team, he holds the world record in the 4×100-meter medley relay (long course). Individually, he currently holds the world record in the 100 and 200-meter backstroke (long course). In February 2011, Peirsol announced his retirement, saying, "I ended up doing everything I set out to...Read Full Story

Aaron Wells Peirsol (born July 23, 1983) is a former American swimmer who specialized in the backstroke. He is a three-time Olympian and seven-time Olympic medalist (five gold, two silver). As part of the American team, he holds the world record in the 4×100-meter medley relay (long course). Individually, he currently holds the world record in the 100 and 200-meter backstroke (long course). In February 2011, Peirsol announced his retirement, saying, "I ended up doing everything I set out to...Read Full Story

IRVINE, California (Reuters) - World champion and record holder Michael Phelps shook off a little bit of early season rust to win the men's 200 meters butterfly at the Pan Pacific Championships on Wednesday.Although unhappy with a few technical points in his first event at the four-day meeting, the dominant American surged to victory in one minute 54.11 seconds at the William Woolett Jr. Aquatics Center."That was painful. Oh my God," Phelps, 25, told reporters with a broad grin after winning...Read Full Story

Ryan Lochte held off Aaron Peirsol in a star-studded 200m backstroke at the US swimming championships Saturday as Michael Phelps was relegated to fourth.In a race that featured five of the six-fastest performers ever in the event, 2008 Olympic champion Lochte led from start to finish to win in 1min 55.58sec.Peirsol, who set the world record in winning the world title in Rome last year, was second in 1:56.28 and Tyler Clary was third in 1:56.36."I just went out as fast as I could and then held...Read Full Story

IRVINE, California (Reuters) - World champion Michael Phelps had a little more bounce in his step after qualifying fastest in the morning heats for the men's 100 meters butterfly at the Pan Pacific Championships on Friday.A day after he failed to reach the final of the 400 medley, Phelps recorded a time of 51.48 seconds at the William Woolett Jr. Aquatics Center. Fellow American Tyler McGill was second in 51.69 with Japan's Takuro Fujii third in 52.20."I wanted to break the Pan Pac record...Read Full Story

Michael Phelps "gutted out" a 200m butterfly victory to complete a gold medal double at the US swimming championships on Wednesday as Aaron Peirsol's national reign ended in the 100m backstroke.Phelps opened his five event campaign on the second day of the championships with a hard-fought victory in the 200m freestyle.Phelps held off Ryan Lochte's last-lap challenge to win in 1:45.61, with Lochte second in 1:45.78 - the two fastest times in the world this year."It was brutal" Lochte said of...Read Full Story

Michael Phelps held on for a "painful" victory in the 200m butterfly at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, holding off Nick D'Arcy with the fastest time in the world this year."That was painful," said the 14-time Olympic gold medallist, who has been battling all season after a lengthy break from training.Phelps led at every turn and won in 1min 54.11sec, but said he could feel rivals closing in the final meters."I felt a splash of water from the lane next to me, I was just thinking...Read Full Story

IRVINE, California (Reuters) - World record holder Aaron Peirsol failed to qualify for the 100 meters backstroke at the Pan Pacific Championships Wednesday but advanced to the final when American team mate Ryan Lochte pulled out.Olympic champion Peirsol was ninth-fastest in the morning heats at the William Woolett Jr. Aquatics Center with compatriots David Plummer and Lochte finishing first and second.Plummer, who upset Peirsol in same event at the U.S. national championships earlier this...Read Full Story

World record-holder Aaron Peirsol received a reprieve Wednesday and will swim the final of the 100m backstroke at the Pan Pacific Championships after teammate Ryan Lochte opted out.Peirsol was an early victim of the meeting's unforgiving format, in which only two swimmers from each nation can compete in the final.That means even a swimmer with one of the top eight heat times can be bumped to the consolation final, and Peirsol was after Americans David Plummer (53.33sec) and Lochte (53.69...Read Full Story

SHANGHAI, Jul (Reuters) - Aaron Peirsol has sounded a warning to the world swimming community that his former U.S. team mate Michael Phelps could be a wounded beast at next year's London Olympics if he 'fails' at the world swimming championships."This (meeting) for him is important. He wants to do well," the bearded Peirsol told Reuters in the seats high above the pool deck at the Oriental Sports Center."If he doesn't do well, to be honest, it may push him that much harder into London."I...Read Full Story