Boys swimming: Better late than never

Tony Altobelli

NEWPORT BEACH - It took longer than expected, but Aaron Peirsol and

a handful of the Irvine Novaquatics finally made it back to Newport

Beach, following their performances at the 2000 U.S. Olympic swimming

trials in Indianapolis.

“It’s been a very long day, to say the least,” Novaquatics Coach and

Olympic assistant coach Dave Salo joked, referring to the six hours worth

of delays and flight cancellations. “I’m glad my assistant coach was

there to keep me at bay, or I might have had to take a piece out of

somebody over there.”

What the delays might have taken out of the athletes and coaches, the

50-plus well-wishers, in attendance at the airport more than put back.

“I didn’t expect anyone but my parents to be here,” Peirsol said.

“This was awesome to see such tremendous support. This whole experience

just keeps getting better.”

With balloons, signs and flowers throughout the reception area, it

really was an “All-American” homecoming for the Newport Harbor junior.

“I really just can’t wait to sleep in my own bed,” Peirsol said. “I’ve

had a couple of days to relax a little bit, but it still isn’t the same

as being home.”

Needless to say, it’s been quite an eventful week for Peirsol, who

went from goofy Newport Harbor student and swimmer, to U.S. Olympic Team

member.

“When we were signing autographs in Indianapolis and I remember

looking over at another swimmer who was also signing,” Peirsol said. “I

remember looking at him like, ‘Can you believe we’re actually doing

this?’ ”

After only two-plus days of being at home, Peirsol heads to Pasadena

for training, before leaving for Australia.

“It will be great having Coach Salo there as well,” he said. “He knows

how I train and how I react to things and I think that will be a big plus

for me.”

Still with the wide-eyed reaction to all that’s happening around him,

Peirsol is still just taking it all in.

“This is so wild,” he said. “I expected a lot of things to come out of

this, but it’s been way more than I ever imagined. There’s been lots of

surprises, which is to be expected at an Olympic Trials. People you’ve

never heard of before swimming out of their skin and the next thing you

know, they’re Olympians forever.”

Now with a couple of days of reflection under his belt, Peirsol has

added a tinge of competitiveness to his “I’m-just-glad-to-be-there

attitude.”

“Obviously, my goal and everyone’s goal is to win the gold medal,”

Peirsol said. “It would be cool if me and (world champion) Lenny

Krayzelburg tied for the gold, but I doubt that will happen. Whatever

happens, though, I’m going to have a blast doing it.”