Peirsol a world beater

BEIJING, China — Newport Harbor High product Aaron Peirsol collected his first gold medal at the Beijing Summer Games.

The 25-year-old did it in record time Tuesday morning in China.

Peirsol swam the 100-meter backstroke in 52.54 seconds, breaking his own world-record mark of 52.89 to defend his title.

“It’s just as wonderful as the first time,” Peirsol told reporters about his medal afterward.

U.S. teammate Matt Grevers, who earned the silver medal in 53.11, told The New York Times that Peirsol is “hands down the best backstroker ever” and that “really the race was for second.”

Russia’s Arkady Vyatchanin and Australia’s Hayden Stoeckel tied for the bronze in 53.18.

Peirsol, competing in his third Olympics, is now a four-time gold medalist, winning the 100 and 200 backstroke events and the 400 individual medley relay at the 2004 Athens Games.

During the 100, Peirsol didn’t lead at the halfway point. He trailed Great Britain’s Liam Tancock, but Peirsol finished strong.

“I’m a little bit excited, a little bit relieved, absolutely elated,” Peirsol told Bloomberg.

He was excited to finish 1-2 with Grevers, his U.S. teammate.

“I looked up and saw Matt next to me and I was elated,” Peirsol told reporters. “Stuff like that is a dream come true.”

Peirsol, who won a silver medal in the 2000 Olympics, set his previous world-record mark in the 100 at the U.S. Olympic Trials last month in Omaha, Neb.

Peirsol’s finish has helped the U.S. dominate the 100 back, an event the U.S. has won gold the last four Olympics.

Next for Peirsol are the 200 back preliminaries Wednesday. The finals are set for Thursday.

Peirsol is trying to become the second swimmer to sweep the 100 and 200 back events in consecutive Olympic Games.

MAY-TREANOR, WALSH WIN AGAIN

BEIJING, China — Former Newport Harbor High standout Misty May-Treanor continued her quest in winning another gold medal in women’s beach volleyball.

May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh beat Cuba’s Dalixia Fernandez Grasset and Tamara Larrea 21-15, 21-16, at the Beijing Summer Games Tuesday.

It was the duo’s 103rd consecutive victory, assuring it a spot in the medal round.

May-Treanor and Walsh, gold-medal winners at the 2004 Athens Games, are now 2-0 in the tournament.

POWERS HELPS USA PAST ITALY

BEIJING, China — Jeff Powers, a former UC Irvine All-American, scored three goals on all three of his shot attempts to help the U.S. men’s water polo team beat Italy, 12-11, Tuesday in China.

Powers’ three goals led the way for the Americans.

Ryan Bailey, Tim Hutten and Rick Merlo, all also former UCI All-Americans, added one goal each, as Team USA improved to 2-0.

Bailey added an assist.

BRYANT, USA FACE ANGOLA

Kobe Bryant, a Newport Coast reasident, and the U.S. men’s basketball team will play against Angola in a preliminary round game today at 5 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time).

The Americans defeated China, 101-70, in their first game in the Olympics.

Bryant scored 13 points.

— From staff reports