Parade for Peirsol planned in Newport
Danette Goulet
NEWPORT BEACH - First they gave him his own day, now the city has
issued a rare parade permit for Olympic swimming silver medalist Aaron
Peirsol.
Come 11:30 a.m. Saturday -- otherwise known as Aaron Peirsol Day in
the city -- the main drag of Balboa Peninsula will be cleared of traffic
to make way for a parade honoring the 17-year-old Newport Harbor High
School junior.
“This is going to be fun,” Peirsol said. “It’s really going to be
sweet.”
Perhaps not as sweet as when he won the silver medal at the summer
games in Sydney in the 200-meter backstroke, just behind world champion
Lenny Krayzelburg of the U.S., but sweet none the less.
Leading the proud parade pack will be the Newport Harbor band,
followed by the day’s namesake riding in a vintage 1910 Rambler
convertible.
“It’ll be cool to see who’s there,” Peirsol said.
For starters there will be a Newport Beach Fire Department truck,
followed by such local dignitaries as City Council members, City Manager
Homer Bludau and Newport Beach Police Chief Bob McDonell, said Jerry
Murphy, staff commodore of American Legion Post 291, which is sponsoring
the day’s events.
Next in line will be the girls in green. Two troupes of Girl Scouts
from Newport Heights Elementary School and one from Mariners Elementary
will march the mile-long route. They will be followed by their younger
counterparts, the Brownies, who will travel via Razor scooters.
And bringing up the rear will be Peirsol’s aquatic buddies, the
Newport Harbor High’s CIF Southern Section Division I championship water
polo team. The recently victorious team will, like Peirsol, be carried in
a motorcade of vintage cars.
The parade will begin at the Balboa Pier and end with a barbecue bash
at the American Legion Hall, 215 15th St.
Although the barbecue is free, individuals wishing to feast with the
famous folk at the event must call Newport Harbor’s Associate Student
Body office to get tickets.
Despite the honor, Peirsol remains, as always, humble.
Although a trip to Washington, D.C., this week with his fellow
Olympians to meet President Clinton -- not to mention his hometown’s
ongoing desire to honor him -- keeps his 200-meter backstroke victory
fresh in his mind, Peirsol has already started training for his next
victory.
After a five-week hiatus, Peirsol dove back in the water in
mid-October, he said Thursday, to prepare for the nationals in March.
Qualifying at the nationals would allow him to swim in competition for
the World Cup.
Peirsol is already guaranteed a spot at a competition in Paris in
January based on his world ranking.
If he can get his schoolwork done over winter break, Peirsol said, he
plans to travel to Paris to compete.
“I’ve learned if you don’t get it all done before you go -- you don’t
get it done,” he said.
FYI
The free tickets for the barbecue that follows the Aaron Peirsol Day
parade are available through the Newport Harbor High School Associate
Student Body office at (949) 515-6306.
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