Peirsol breaks record

Rick Devereux

Newport Harbor High alum Aaron Peirsol only wanted to keep pace with

Randall Bal in the 100-meter backstroke at the U.S. world

championship trials in Indianapolis Saturday.

Peirsol had not swam a long course since August when he won three

gold medals at the Athens Olympics, setting the world record of 53.45

in his leg of the winning 400 medley relay team. He also won gold in

the 100 back (54.06) and set an Olympic record in the 200 back with

his time of 1:54.95. After the Olympics, Peirsol took some time off

and had only started training again in January.

But while he was keeping pace with Bal, Peirsol did something

swimmers are not supposed to do.

“I looked up at the clock -- I know you’re not supposed to look at

the clock, but I did -- and that’s when I knew I was really

motoring,” he said.

The Ensign Middle School product was motoring indeed. Peirsol

finished in 53.17, breaking his old mark by .28. Bal was second in

54.01.

“[The record] came out of nowhere,” he said. “I didn’t feel

spectacular. I just felt strong.”

The event winners are guaranteed a spot on the U.S. team competing

in the world championships in Montreal July 24-31.

Peirsol said his showing Saturday will do more than just give him

confidence heading into the world championships.

“[This will give me confidence] even for the next four years,” he

said. “I didn’t think I could do something like that for four years,

maybe. I thought I had to be in the best shape of my life. This

boosts my confidence for four years.”

Of course, the Beijing Olympics are three years away, meaning

Peirsol could add to the hardware he took home from Athens.

Peirsol said this race has become an eye-opener.

“This is going to change the way I approach a race,” he said.

“[This will change] what I think I’m able to do in a race. I didn’t

know how strong I was and how much better my walls have gotten.”

He said he will celebrate the record Tuesday when the trials are

complete.