BEIJING OLYMPICS:

When Aaron Peirsol, the former Newport Harbor High standout, finished second in the 200-meter backstroke at the Beijing Olympics, a bit of shock and surprise settled into the community Thursday night. Certainly, Brian Pajer, Peirsol’s first backstroke coach and UC Irvine’s head man for swimming, was expecting the 25-year-old to win the event that took place Friday morning in Beijing, China.

Peirsol had it there for the taking, to become only the second man to win the backstroke events in consecutive Olympic Games and further solidify himself as the best backstroke swimmer of all time.

But Peirsol settled for the silver medal, touching the wall after fellow American Ryan Lochte won in 1 minute, 53.94 seconds. That time smashed Lochte’s former world record, 1:54.32, which he had shared with the Newport Harbor alumnus.

Peirsol followed behind in 1:54.33.

“I just felt that [Peirsol] was looking so good, at the [U.S. Olympic Trials last month], in the 100 back [Monday],” said Pajer, who coached Peirsol when the four-time Olympic gold medalist was 9 and until he was 14 when he trained with Irvine Novaquatics. “I know Lochte is good, but I really thought Aaron would have enough. Aaron was right around his lifetime best. Sometimes it goes that way. I think he gave it all he could give. But that’s just swimming. That’s sports.”

Peirsol, who won gold in the 100 back in a world-record time of 52.54 seconds earlier this week, sounded as if he was humbled after finishing behind Lochte in the 200 back. Going in he knew a world-record time would have to be reached in order to attain gold.

“That’s the theme of the meet: you’ve got to break the world record to win,” Peirsol told reporters, according to Olympics News Service. “I gave it my all, I had nothing left. Ryan handed me a great race, but I have no regrets.”

Peirsol also had to respond if he had thought the second-place finish would affect his legacy.

“I don’t know if I’m going to look at it that way,” Peirsol said. “It really doesn’t take anything away from my career. A race is a race. You can get beat, but no one owns anything.”

Pajer, who also coaches Irvine Aquazots, believed Peirsol owned the event since 2001.

“If you can be No. 1 in the world for six years, I think that says quite a bit,” Pajer said. “There are times when he can be a little off, but he certainly had a great run, and it can rival anybody in that span of time. You can really go back to the example that Aaron set. Without him I don’t think the other swimmers become who they are in that event. That’s a pretty good legacy, he’s been the main factor to build up that event for other swimmers.”

Ken LaMont, associate head coach of Irvine Novaquatics and the Newport Harbor girls’ coach, as well as Pajer and Harbor boys’ athletic director Eric Tweit remained proud of Peirsol.

“Being a coach of the program that he came from, it makes us very proud,” LaMont said. “It’s kind of surreal to see all that he has done and to see him perform. We are very excited about his success and hopefully we will see it with future generations here.”

Tweit said he has also enjoyed the success of Newport Harbor alumna Misty May-Treanor, who won with Kerri Walsh to improve to 4-0 in beach volleyball in Beijing.

“First or second doesn’t matter,” Tweit said of Peirsol. “Everything he does is great. I’ve just been proud of the fact that there was involvement in something he did here.”

STEVE VIRGEN may be reached at (714) 966-4616 or by e-mail at [email protected].