Life returning to normal for Peirsol

Tony Altobelli

As difficult as it was to stay ahead of the world’s best

backstrokers at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Newport Harbor junior Aaron

Peirsol overcame another obstacle upon his return to the United States.

Homework. “I think I’m finally caught up,” Peirsol proudly boasted.

With life returning somewhat normal for the 200-meter backstroke

silver medalist, it’s time to jump back into the water and to get ready

for future obstacles.

“The World Championship Trials are next up in March for Aaron,” Irvine

Novaquatics and Orange Coast College swimming coach Dave Salo said. “It’s

time to start getting busy and to get refocused on what’s ahead.”

Peirsol, along with double-medal winner Jason Lezak, were near

poolside at the Los Caballeros Racquet & Tennis Center on Saturday,

signing autographs and posing for pictures with youngsters.

After endless sessions with reporters from all walks of life, Peirsol

is glad the chaos has diminished somewhat.

“I still get stuff in the mail from people all over the country,” he

said. “I try not to get too caught up in all of that. I’m glad to be back

in school and I’m going to get busy with more training very soon.”

One thing that both Salo and Peirsol mentioned was harder training on

other strokes besides the back.

“We would like to put some focus on some more events,” Salo said.

“Aaron’s got some good skills in the individual medley as well as

freestyle events.”

Peirsol might even see some distance in his swimming future. “I train

by swimming 400 butterflies and I’m going to be doing less backstroke and

more distance,” he said. “I’ve also been doing a lot of running to try to

stay in shape.”

Peirsol will do some competing with the Sailors this year with hopes

of adding to his three CIF Southern Section individual titles.

“Newport should have a pretty good team this year,” he said. “It

should be fun.”

Looking at the physical difference between Peirsol and 200-back gold

medalist Lenny Krayzelburg, Salo believes that the weights will come, but

at a later time.

“We might change up some of our dry-land workouts, but as far as heavy

weightlifting, we’ll wait for Aaron to get to college for that,” Salo

said. “We’re going to take things slow with Aaron, but not too slow. Four

years can go by pretty fast.”