EDITORIAL

Aaron Peirsol knew he could break the world record in the 200-meter

backstroke. It was just a matter of when. Last week, that time came.

At the National Championships in Minneapolis, the Newport Harbor High

School senior bested the record by 0.72 of a second with a 1:55.15

finish. There, he also won his fifth national title in the 100-meter

backstroke and helped lead his team, the Irvine Novaquatics, to a

national title in the 800-meter freestyle relay.

Evidence existed previously that Peirsol practically sports gills and

is capable of many swimming accomplishments. In 2000, the 18-year-old won

a silver medal at the Summer Olympics in Sydney.

Even earlier, at age 7, Peirsol made a promise while visiting the U.S.

Swimming Hall of Fame in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. There, his father, Tim

Hartig, recalled him saying, “Someday I’m going to break a world record

and be in the hall of fame.”

More greatness may still await Peirsol as he takes everyone on at the

World Championships in Moscow next week and, more than likely, in the

2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.

Peirsol said he hopes to resume his role on the Newport Harbor High

boys’ swim team after his Moscow trip.

We wish Peirsol well in all of his endeavors, hoping that he not only

wins Olympic gold, but that he breaks his own world record at some point.

He definitely has skills and is probably just getting started.

Great job, Aaron.