National Team

Aaron Peirsol

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SWIMMER STATS

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Career Highlights

Captured two gold medals at the 2010 MOO Pan Pacific Championships in the 100m back and 400m medley relay … won two gold medals and set two world records at the 2009 FINA World Championships in the 200m back and the 400m medley … earned National Titles in the 100m and 200m back at the 2009 National Championships, setting a world record in both events ... double gold medalist in the 100m back and 400m
med-relay at the 2008 Olympic Games; also won a silver medal in the 200m back ... qualified for the 2008 Olympics by placing first in the 100m and 200m back at Trials, setting a world record in each ... broke his own world record and claimed gold in the 100m back at the 2007 World Championships ... before the 2007 World Champs had not lost the 200m back at an international meet since the 2000 Olympic Games, when he finished second ... two-time Olympian who won three gold medals at the 2004 Olympic Games, becoming just the fifth male (fourth American) to sweep the backstroke races ... for the second time in a row, swept the backstroke races at 2005 World Championships, winning both 100m and 200m back and swimming the backstroke leg of the 400m med-relay (he also did it in 2003) ... captured his first international gold medal in 200m back at the 2001 World Champs ... youngest American (age 15) to break two minutes in 200m back when he did it at the 1999 Spring National Championships

Olympics History

2008: Gold, 100m BK (WR) and 400m MR (WR); Silver, 200m BK ... 2004: Gold, 100m & 200m BK and 400m MR ... 2000: Silver, 200m BK

World Champs History

2009: Gold 200 BK ... 2007: Gold, 100m BK(WR); Silver, 200m BK ... 2005 & 2003: Gold, 100m & 200m BK & 400m MR ... 2001: Gold, 200m BK

Pan Pacs History

2010: Gold, 100m BK & 400m MR ... 2006: Gold, 100m BK & 200m BK(WR) & 400m MR ... 2002: Gold, 100m & 200m BK & 400m MR(WR)

SC Worlds History

2004: Gold, 100m BK & 200m BK(WR) & 400m MR(WR) ... 2002: Gold, 200m BK(WR) & 400m MR(WR); Silver, 100m BK

U.S. Nationals History

2010: 2, 100m/200m BK; 4, 100m FL

2007 World Rankings

86th, 200m FR; 26th, 50m BK; 1st, 100m BK; 3rd, 200m BK; 44th, 100m FL; 63rd, 200m FL; 69th, 200m IM

Fun Facts

High School

Newport Harbor HS '02

College

Texas '06

College Major

Government

Parents

Tim and Wella ... father is a mortgage broker, and mother is a retired dental hygenist

Sibling(s)

Younger sister (Hayley) swam at Auburn and was a member of the National Team … Aaron and Hayley became the only sibling duo to medal at the same World Champs when Hayley took silver in the 1500m free, followed by Aaron's gold in the 100m back, both on July 22, 2003 ... older stepsister (Erin) ... stepbrother (Greg) is the same age

Sports Played Before Swimming

Water polo, basketball, baseball, soccer

Nickname(s)

Pinesol

Hobbies Outside the Pool

Reading, going to the beach

Ultimate Way to Relax

Going to the beach

Charities

Is an ambassador for the Surfrider Foundation, working to increase awareness of beach and coastal environmental issues ... is a spokesman for Oceana, the largest international organization solely dedicated to ocean advocacy ... serves as a "clean water ambassador" for the Global Water Foundation

Training Stats

Swims 10,000 meters/yards per day, 3 hours a day, 6 days a week

More

Gave up future college eligibility after 2004 NCAA Championships … youngest American (age 15) to break two minutes in 200m back, which he did first at 1999 Spring Nationals

More

Enjoys surfing when he’s near the ocean; favorite places: the Wedge in Newport Beach, Calif., for body surfing, and a small beach in Nosara, Costa Rica

More

At the 2006 Nationals, both Aaron and his sister Hayley won national titles on the same day (Aug. 5) as Hayley captured her first national title in the 1500m free and Aaron won his 11th national title in the 200m back

Favorites

U.S. city: Newport Beach, Calif. ... int'l destination: Barcelona ... musician: Mason Jennings ... favorite summer activity: surfing

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