Men’s swimming: Peirsol takes gold at World Championships

FUKUOKA, Japan - One thing was learned by the entire swimming

community. Olympic silver medalist Aaron Peirsol knows how to quickly

turn the page.

Three days after failing to qualify for the finals of the 100-meter

backstroke at the 2001 FINA World Swimming Championships, Peirsol not

only won the gold medal in the 200 back, he set a new meet record with a

time of 1:57.13.

“To me, being a world champion is like being an Olympic champion,”

Peirsol said in a post-race news conference. “This is the most important

moment in my career so far.”

After a close 50 meters, the Newport Harbor High senior took control

of the race and had a half-second lead on the rest of the field.

Peirsol’s lead continued to grow after 150 meters before touching the

wall .94 seconds ahead of silver medalist Markus Rogan of Austria

(1:58.07). Orn Arnarson of Israel finished third (1:58.37).

So just how fast was Peirsol’s time? During the 2000 Olympics, Peirsol

earned the silver medal with a time of 1:57.35, just slightly behind

world champion Lenny Krayzelburg’s 1:56.76.

Peirsol, currently ranked No. 1 in the world in the 200 back, set the

U.S. Open record time March 31 in Austin, TX with a 1:56.56.

Peirsol’s gold was just one of the many highlights for the United

States in Thursday’s competition. After a few days of sluggishness, the

spirited Americans won three gold medals, a silver and a bronze.

Krayzelburg did not compete at the World Championships.

“You don’t want to make the U.S. mad, because when we’re mad, watch

out,” Peirsol said. “There’s going to be some fast swimming going on.”