Boy breaks swim record

Thomas Smith had a record-setting day at the Southern California Junior Olympics Swimming Championships.

The 10-year-old from Huntington Beach won six individual gold medals and broke Olympic gold medalist and world record holder Aaron Peirsol’s Southern California record in the backstroke in the process, at the national event at Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach on Feb. 3.

Smith broke Peirsol’s record in the 100-yard backstroke. The Grace Elementary School fifth-grader went 1:02.8 in the backstroke to shatter Peirsol’s previous record time of 1:13.27.

Smith is the first swimmer in California to break the 1:03 barrier.

His other victories came in the 50-yard backstroke (29.7), 100-yard individual medley (1:02.8), 200-yard individual medley (2:19.02), 50-yard freestyle (26.5) and 100-yard free (57.5).

Those times rank him first in the nation in those six events.

The rankings are compiled by USA Swimming.

Smith is just the fourth youngster to win all six individual boys’ events in the past decade.

“It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” he said of breaking Peirsol’s record and winning six gold medals. “It was fun and this feat will help me to keep on swimming for a long time.”

Smith swims for Coach Ken Grey at NOVA Aquatics.

Peirsol won gold medals in the 100- and 200-meters backstroke at the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, Greece.

A world champion in the 100-meters backstroke in 2003, 2005 and 2007, he also is the world record-holder in the event.