Aaron Peirsol

University of Texas freshman Aaron Peirsol, a product of Newport Harbor High, was stunned in the finals of the 100-meter backstroke Friday at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Finals, as Stanford junior Peter Marshall logged a winning 46.67 to repeat as NCAA champion in the event. Peirsol, the leader after the preliminaries with a time of 46.27, finished second to Marshall with a time of 45.71. Peirsol was also a member of the 800-meter free relay for the Longhorns and led off with a 1:34.

Steve Virgen There has been one constant trait of Aaron Peirsol throughout his glorious year of 2002. Aaron Peirsol has been Aaron Peirsol. This is important in pressure situations because Peirsol, who is definitely unique, uses his happy-go-lucky attitude to remain calm. Such was the case in the CIF Southern Section Division I Finals Friday, when Peirsol displayed the ultimate farewell. "I'm still the same kid, the same guy who goofs around," Peirsol said before he won his fourth straight CIF Division I title in the 100-yard backstroke.

Tony Altobelli NEWPORT BEACH - After two years of training, four weeks of pre-Olympic preparation and two weeks of Olympic exposure in Sydney, Australia, one question still puzzles silver medalist Aaron Peirsol. Why do people eat Vegemite? "Dude, that stuff is nasty," the Newport Harbor High junior said. "And people over there eat it like it's butter or something. They put it on everything. I just don't get it." For the 17-year-old, he'll stick with his chocolate-chip pancakes, thank you very much.

Growing up in Newport Beach as a surfer, swimmer, and water polo player, Aaron Peirsol was certainly no stranger to the water. And while swimming pools never bothered him (he owns three Olympic gold medals and two world records), what he saw at some Southern California beaches left him a bit queasy. “I remember going to Belmont Pool (in Long Beach) for swimming competitions, and it’s one of the nicest pools in the state,” says Peirsol, now 24 and training for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

The last day of Taylor Cortens' Spanish class called for celebration. Time for a fiesta for Taylor. The party featured a variety of candy and treats. Flashing his beaming smile, Taylor consumed all the goodies possible. On a normal day, this would not present any problems. But, Taylor's first swim practice followed the party. With a sense of anticipation buried deep within — past the consumed chocolate and sugar that occupied his stomach — he attended practice.

Displaying the diversity that exists on the Newport-Mesa sports scene, the top 10 sports stories of the decade, as chosen by the Daily Pilot sports staff, represent 10 different sports. Individuals, events and programs, from the professional ranks, college, high school and the youth realm are also represented. 1 Misty May-Treanor: Misty May-Treanor: The Newport Harbor High product has not only established herself as the preeminent figure in her sport, but has also become a cultural icon and international celebrity known to millions who have never even seen her jump serve.

YOKOHAMA, Japan -- Aaron Peirsol, the 200-meter backstroke world-record holder and former Newport Harbor High standout, captured his second gold medal for the U.S. team in the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships Wednesday. His younger sister, Hayley, who will be a senior at Newport Harbor High, also medaled. She earned a bronze medal, after finishing in 8:32.27 in the 800 freestyle. Aaron Peirsol, who is bound for the University of Texas, won the 200 backstroke (1:56.

Aaron Peirsol, the former Newport Harbor High School swim star, punched his ticket to Athens by winning the 100-meter backstroke Friday afternoon at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Long Beach. Peirsol finished with a time of 53.64 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year. "It's a great night," he said. "I'm so stoked I'll be traveling this summer to Greece." THRILL OF VICTORY: Above, Peirsol is all smiles as he walks around the pool after receiving his medal for his victory.

Aaron Peirsol stood and waved from the champion's top spot on the podium moments after winning the 100-meter backstroke Aug. 18, 2010. His hometown crowd cheered for him at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center in Irvine. They were happy to see him win and they were looking forward to what he would provide next. But Peirsol knew his career was over, he said Wednesday when he explained his reasons for retiring. Peirsol's coach Eddie Reese told swimmingworldmagazine.com Tuesday that the five-time Olympic gold medalist had retired.

Backstroke king and five-time Olympic gold medalist Aaron Peirsol, the former Newport Harbor High swim star, won't be aiming for the 2012 Olympics. That's because he's retiring, according to swimmingworldmagazine.com. When Texas coach Eddie Reese was asked if his former swimmer Peirsol was hanging it up, Reese told Swimming World's Peter Busch, "he has done that. " "I think [Peirsol] has made it official-unofficial or unofficial-official that he is not going to 2012," Reese said during the interview.

This time, Aaron Peirsol doesn't get a second chance at defending a backstroke gold medal at the Pan Pacific Championships. The Newport Harbor High product on Friday could not depend on a U.S. teammate to reach the finals in his second backstroke event in as many days at the international meet. Peirsol recorded the third-fastest time overall in the 200-meter backstroke preliminaries in the morning, but two fellow Americans finished ahead, eliminating Peirsol from the eight-man final at night at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center in Irvine.

Last week I experienced a rather surreal moment while reporting at the USA Swimming National Championships. I saw Aaron Peirsol for the first time since 2004, all grown up. Yes it was bizarre that he ended the meet without a gold medal, but it was also a bit strange to see him again. He's now 27. I first met him when he was 17. I wouldn't say we have a friendship, but it is a friendly working relationship. It was great to catch up with him. But this column isn't really about my encounter with Peirsol, who starred at Newport Harbor High.

IRVINE — And, that's a wrap. Or is it? The USA Swimming National Championships ended for Aaron Peirsol without a gold medal, a rarity for sure. The former Newport Harbor High standout got the job done, qualifying for the Pan Pacific Championships in the 100-meter backstroke and the 200 back, but there appears to be some unfinished business. He finished second to Ryan Lochte in the 200 back, a race Peirsol called, "fun," Saturday at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center.

IRVINE — If Aaron Peirsol was upset, he sure kept a great poker face Wednesday night at Irvine High. Peirsol might not have felt upset, but David Plummer of Minnesota definitely pulled one off. The 6-foot-4 Peirsol doesn't usually get out-touched in the 100-meter backstroke, or any backstroke race for that matter. But in his former home pool, on a big stage, it was a shocker that had the crowd buzzing at the USA Swimming National Championships. Plummer took the win, holding off Peirsol's rally to win the national championship in the 100 back in 53.60 seconds.

IRVINE — Just the other day, Dave Salo said he and Aaron Peirsol talked about Irvine, where Salo coached and Peirsol learned to swim. Salo is the general manager of the Irvine Novaquatics, Peirsol's club team as a kid. The two go way back and they have reunited at the USA Swimming National Championships at Irvine High. As Salo waited for Peirsol's 100-meter backstroke finale Wednesday night, he talked about how Peirsol felt about his return home. Something felt off for Peirsol, a Newport Harbor High graduate.

Newport Harbor High alumnus Aaron Peirsol is one of more than 30 U.S. Olympians expected to compete at the USA Swimming National Championships at Irvine High on Aug. 3-7. Peirsol is looking to defend his 200-meter and 400-meter backstroke titles, which he won at last year's national championships in Charlotte, N.C. The overall field should include Peirsol, a five-time Olympic gold medalist, and gold-medal winners Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte,...

Displaying the diversity that exists on the Newport-Mesa sports scene, the top 10 sports stories of the decade, as chosen by the Daily Pilot sports staff, represent 10 different sports. Individuals, events and programs, from the professional ranks, college, high school and the youth realm are also represented. 1 Misty May-Treanor: Misty May-Treanor: The Newport Harbor High product has not only established herself as the preeminent figure in her sport, but has also become a cultural icon and international celebrity known to millions who have never even seen her jump serve.

ROME — It was only three weeks ago that Aaron Peirsol added to his legend lowering the world record in the 100-meter backstroke. But at the FINA World Championships Monday, the former Newport Harbor High standout received a crushing blow: he failed to even reach the finals of the 100 back. According to the Associated Press, Peirsol, who is also a two-time Olympic champ in the 100 back, wanted to save energy for the final swim. But that turned out to be a huge mistake.