Peirsol nets second gold

Aaron Peirsol won his second gold medal Friday when he swam the

200-meter backstroke final in 1.55.92 at the 2003 World Championships

in Barcelona, Spain.

The Newport Harbor High graduate, who will enter his sophomore

year at Texas in the fall, raced to a 1.55.82 during the semifinals

of the event Thursday and entered Friday’s meet as the top seed.

Croatia’s Gordon Kozulj finished second in 1:57.47. Peirsol’s time

Friday is the fourth-fastest in history.

“I can’t say I’m disappointed not to get a world record,” Peirsol

told reporters. “You can get a world record any day. You can only get

a world championship medal every two years.”

Peirsol will compete in the 50-meter backstroke heats and the

semifinals today. Michael Phelps became the first person to break

world records in two events on the same day, all within 45 minutes of

each other. He raced to first in the 100 butterfly in 51.47, then

posted a 1.56.04 to win the 200 individual medley.

Hayley Peirsol, a 2003 Newport Harbor High graduate, took fourth

place with an 8.38.78 in the fifth heat in the 800-meter freestyle

race Friday.