Tony Altobelli
LOS ANGELES - Sometimes it's important to remember that when you
talk with Newport Harbor High junior Aaron Peirsol, you're talking to a
16-year-old kid who happens to be a world-class swimmer.
Shortly after stunning the packed house at the USC Swimming pool by
defeating the best swimmers in the world in the 200-meter backstroke at
the Janet Evans Invitational the topic that lit his face the brightest?
Tonight's Metallica concert next door at the L.A. Coliseum.
"Man, that's going to be a killer show," Peirsol said with boyish
glee. "My buddy is going to the concert and he didn't get me a ticket
because he didn't think I was worth the $70 bucks. Maybe you could get me
a media pass or something."
Perhaps not worth $70 at the moment, but if he keeps this current
pace, he'll be able to have Metallica play at his senior prom.
Peirsol, competing for the Irvine Novaquatics, knocked off some, if
not all the best backstrokers in the world, including current
world-record holder Lenny Krayzelburg, with a time of 1:59.01, edging the
USC Swim Club star's time of 1:59.34.
The win is the first for Peirsol over Krayzelburg. In fact, it's the
first time Krayzelburg has been beaten in a 200-meter long course event
since 1996.
"There weren't too many top swimmers away from this event,"
Novaquatics Coach David Salo said. "This is a great for Aaron to have
this win under his belt. I don't think necessarily for his confidence,
because that's already strong. But there's nothing wrong with getting
under someone's skin."
Krayzelburg was second, while Croatian Olympian Gordan Kozulj was
third with a 2:00.73.
Despite the big accomplishment, Peirsol remained calm and cool,
recognizing that his biggest race takes place August 9 at the Olympic
Trials in Indianapolis, Ind.
"I'm sure Lenny shrugged it off," Peirsol said. "I'll do the same. I
definitely think we both learned from this race. We each have four weeks
and I'm not sure how much you can improve in only four weeks."
Peirsol got off the wall slower than both Krayzelburg and Kozulj,
posting a 28.27 after 50 meters, good for third place.
"That's a part of his race we've been working on," Salo said. "We're
still going to keep improving on that as well as his turns for
Indianapolis."
Peirsol, a three-time CIF individual champion at Newport Harbor, found
his stroke in the next 50 meters, moving ahead of Kozulj, but still
behind Krayzelburg by just over one second.
"I couldn't see anything," Peirsol said when asked if he knew how
