Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week, Aaron Peirsol: Swim sensation

Tony Altobelli

It’s kind of ironic that Aaron Peirsol’s swimming hero, Kieren

Perkins, is from the country that he hopes to visit when the 2000 Sydney

Olympics take place.

“He was an animal for the Australian team in his prime,” the Newport

Harbor sophomore said.

For Peirsol, a trip to the Sydney Olympics in the 200-meter backstroke

would be a dream come true, but he knows that he’s still just a pup in

the swimming world.

“Obviously, I would love to make the team,” Peirsol said. “But if I don’t

make it, I know I still have some opportunities ahead of me.”

Closer to home, Peirsol has been an animal himself. In last week’s

Foothill Swim Games, he set a Sailors’ school record in the 100-yard

butterfly (50.96), he neared his personal-best mark in the 200 individual

medley (1:53.71) and helped the Tars take top spot in both the 200

(1:29.14) and 400 free relay events (3:16.21). The 200 relay time is also

a school record.

“I basically go out there to have fun,” Peirsol said. “Obviously, winning

is always fun, but I don’t dwell on winning. I just go out there and

focus on doing the best I can.”

Currently second in the world behind USC’s Lenny Krayselburg in the

200-meter backstroke, Peirsol will need a top-two finish at the Olympic

Trials Aug. 9 in Indianapolis, Ind. to compete for the United States.

After his performance in the Senior Nationals in Washington when he came

in with a 1:57.03, the fifth-fastest time in the history of the event,

and a 1:59.76 in the Pan-Am Games earlier in the year, there is a chance

for the 16-year-old to compete with the world’s best.

“He’s gonna have to equal his Senior Nationals’ time or even come in a

little ahead of that to have a shot,” Coach Brian Kreutzkamp said. “I

think he can do it, but if he doesn’t he’s got a couple more Olympics to

shoot for down the road. In that event, most people don’t peak until

22-24 years old, so the sky is the limit with Aaron.”

Having competed throughout North America and beyond, Peirsol is taking

this world-wide recognition in stride. “All the training and preparation

is just a part of life for me now,” Peirsol said. “It’s almost like

another chore in the day.”

So what separates Peirsol from the pack? “I don’t think there is much

difference, to be honest with you,” the Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week

said. “Mentally, I try to stay ahead of everyone else. Preparation is

another key for me. I wanna make sure I am as prepared as I can be for

each race.”

It’s Peirsol’s intangibles that are taking the Sailors to a new level in

the swimming ranks.

“We’ve been known primarily as a water polo school, but not so much for

swimming,” Kreutzkamp said. “Now, people are starting to look at us in

that capacity and it’s largely due to Aaron. He makes others around him

rise to higher levels.”

So how is Peirsol taking all this recognition? Kreutzkamp says that his

humility is his best trait. “Aaron is so well-adjusted,” he said. “He’s

just one of the guys. If he wasn’t swimming, you would have to have him

pointed out to you because he doesn’t stick out.”

Peirsol is using his high school experiences as a reminder of how to

properly approach his sport: with fun.

“It’s a great reality check for me,” Peirsol said. “It reminds me that I

swim because I love it and it’s fun. Hanging out with your friends and

trying to win makes it all worth while.”