Topic: Aaron Peirsol

Aaron Wells Peirsol (born July 23, 1983 in Irvine, California) is an Olympic-level swimmer from the United States of America. Peirsol participated in the 2000 Summer Olympics, 2004 Summer Olympics, and 2008 Summer Olympics, capturing a total of seven medals. He is best known for sweeping the gold medals in the backstroke at the Athens games. Peirsol has also won the world championships in the 100 meter backstroke in 2003, 2005 and 2007, and won 200 meter backstroke in 2001, 2003 and 2005.

Peirsol swam collegiately at the University of Texas at Austin, although he considers Newport Beach, California, home. He is an alumnus of Newport Harbor High School. Aaron and his sister's (Hayley) first swim team was at the NCMY (Newport Costa Mesa YMCA). After leaving NCMY, he trained with the Irvine Novaquatics. He trains with fellow world record holders and gold medalists Ian Crocker, Brendan Hansen, and Neil Walker under the guidance of Eddie Reese.

After winning gold in the 100 m backstroke, he followed up by winning the 200 m event, but an initial disqualification alleged that he had made an illegal turn during the race. Having been improperly entered, the disqualification was overturned, giving Peirsol his second individual gold.