Aaron Peirsol
Biographical information
| Roles | Competed in Olympic Games |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Full name | Aaron Wells•Peirsol |
| Used name | Aaron•Peirsol |
| Born | 23 July 1983 in Irvine, California (USA) |
| Measurements | 191 cm / 91 kg |
| Affiliations | Irvine Novaquatics, Irvine (USA) / Texas Longhorns, Austin (USA) |
| NOC |  United States |
| Medals | OG |
| Gold | 5 |
| Silver | 2 |
| Bronze | 0 |
| Total | 7 |
Biography
Throughout the first decade of the 21st centry, Aaron Peirsol was the top backstroke swimmer in the world. After débuting internationally at the Sydney Olympics at the age of 17 (claiming a silver medal in the 200 m backstroke behind Lenny Krayzelburg), Aaron Peirsol won five Olympic gold medals, 10 long-course World Championships, and another 6 in the short course pool. Peirsol won the backstroke double (100 and 200 m) at the 2004 Olympics, as well as the 2003 and 2005 World Championships, adding golds in the medley relay each time. Peirsol’s second gold in Athens, in the 200 m, was won with an overwhelming 2.5 second margin over second-placed Markus Rogan. However, when the results popped onto the screen, Peirsol was shown as having been disqualified, supposedly for having made an improper turn. However, the lane judge filed the violation incorrectly, and within half an hour the decision was overturned. This then prompted protests from the Austrians (for Rogan) and British (for 4th place James Goddard), but these were denied by the FINA. In 2008, Peirsol tried for a second Olympic triple in Beijing, but was denied in the 200 m by compatriot Ryan Lochte. Two years later, Peirsol closed out his career, at that time holding world records in both backstroke events (long course), having bettered these a total of 13 times.
Personal Bests: 100 backstroke – 51.94 (2009); 200 backstroke – 1:51.92 (2009).
Results
| Games | Discipline (Sport) / Event | NOC / Team | Pos | Medal | As | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Summer Olympics | Swimming (Aquatics) | USA |
Aaron Peirsol | |||
| 200 metres Backstroke, Men (Olympic) | 2 | Silver | ||||
| 2004 Summer Olympics | Swimming (Aquatics) | USA |
Aaron Peirsol | |||
| 100 metres Backstroke, Men (Olympic) | 1 | Gold | ||||
| 200 metres Backstroke, Men (Olympic) | 1 | Gold | ||||
| 4 × 100 metres Medley Relay, Men (Olympic) | United States | 1 | Gold | |||
| 2008 Summer Olympics | Swimming (Aquatics) | USA |
Aaron Peirsol | |||
| 100 metres Backstroke, Men (Olympic) | 1 | Gold | ||||
| 200 metres Backstroke, Men (Olympic) | 2 | Silver | ||||
| 4 × 100 metres Medley Relay, Men (Olympic) | United States | 1 | Gold |
Special Notes
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the Summer Pan American Games (0–1–0 1999 Winnipeg SWI silver: 200 m backstroke)
- Listed in Current World Record Holders in Swimming (200 m backstroke 1:51.92 (2009))
- Listed in Olympians Who Set a World Record in Long Course Swimming (100 m backstroke – 21 August 2004 - 1 July 2009 and 8 July 2009 - 13 August 2016: 53.45 (21 August 2004; Athina, GRE), 53.17 (2 April 2005; Indianapolis, USA), 52.98 (27 March 2007; Melbourne, AUS), 52.89 (1 July 2008; Omaha, USA), 52.54 (12 August 2008; Beijing, CHN), 51.94 (8 July 2009; Indianapolis, USA); 200 m backstroke – 20 March 2002 - 30 March 2007, 4 July 2008 - 15 August 2008, and 11 July 2009 - present: 1:55.15 (20 March 2002; Minneapolis, USA), 1:54.74 (12 July 2004; Long Beach, USA), 1:54.66 (29 July 2005; Montréal, CAN), 1:54.44 (19 August 2006; Victoria, CAN), 1:54.32 tied (4 July 2008; Omaha, USA), 1:53.08 (11 July 2009; Indianapolis, USA), 1:51.92 (31 July 2009; Roma, ITA); 4×100 m medley relay – 29 August 2002 - 1 August 2021: 3:33.48 (29 August 2002; Yokohama, JPN), 3:31.54 (27 July 2003; Barcelona, ESP), 3:30.68 (21 August 2004; Athina, GRE), 3:29.34 (17 August 2008; Beijing, CHN), 3:27.28 (2 August 2009; Roma, ITA))
- Listed in Olympians Who Set a World Record in Short Course Swimming (200 m backstroke – 7 April 2002 - 8 December 2005: 1:51.17 (7 April 2002; Moskva, RUS), 1:50.52 (11 October 2004; Indianapolis, USA); 4×100 m medley relay – 7 April 2002 - 4 September 2002 and 25 March 2004 - 13 April 2008: 3:29.00 (7 April 2002; Moskva, RUS), 3:25.38 (25 March 2004; East Meadow, USA), 3:25.09 (11 October 2004; Indianapolis, USA))
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships (8–0–0 2002 Yokohama gold: 100 m backstroke, 200 m backstroke, and 4×100 m medley relay; 2006 Victoria gold: 100 m backstroke, 200 m backstroke, and 4×100 m medley relay; 2010 Irvine gold: 100 m backstroke and 4×100 m medley relay)
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the World Aquatics Championships (10–2–0 2001 Fukuoka SWI gold: 200 m backstroke; 2003 Barcelona SWI gold: 100 m backstroke, 200 m backstroke, and 4×100 m medley relay; silver: 4×200 m freestyle relay; 2005 Montréal SWI gold: 100 m backstroke, 200 m backstroke, and 4×100 m medley relay; 2007 Melbourne SWI gold: 100 m backstroke, silver: 200 m backstroke; 2009 Roma SWI gold: 200 m backstroke and 4×100 m medley relay)
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the World Short-Course Swimming Championships (25 m) (6–1–1 2002 Moskva gold: 200 m backstroke, 4×100 m freestyle relay (swam in heats only), and 4×100 m medley relay, silver: 100 m backstroke, bronze: 4×200 m freestyle relay (swam in heats only); 2004 Indianapolis gold: 100 m backstroke, 200 m backstroke, and 4×100 m medley relay)
- Listed in Olympic Swimmers - Doubles Champions, Same Year (2004 100/200 Backstroke Champion.)