Aaron Peirsol: Keeping the pace

Aaron Peirsol is very protective of his world records --- even though one of his is very much in peril tonight at the FINA World Championships in Rome.

It's been a roller-coaster year for Peirsol, whose once dominant hold on world records in backstroke events has become more of a game of hot potato in the last month.

The three-time U.S. Olympian held the 100-meter backstroke world record for five years before losing it July 1 to Spain's Aschwin Wildeboer.

Eight days later, the world record was back in Peirsol's possession after he won the national championship in the event in 51.9 seconds.

"To be honest, I'm surprised it hadn't (been broken) yet," Peirsol said of his world record in the 100 back. "I wanted to go fast when I got to (the U.S. National Championships) anyway, and break my own world record.

"But getting the record back was sort of an added motivation. I don't know if (Wildeboer) is disappointed. He held it for just a week. I held it for five years."

On the final day of the national championships, Peirsol regained another world record, winning the 200 back (1:53.08) defeating Olympic champion Ryan Lochte by more than a second and taking his world record in the process.

Peirsol hopes to hang onto those two world records at these world championships, but he will have to sit poolside and wait instead of racing against the clock in the 100 back.

Surprisingly, yesterday he didn't qualify for the 100 back finals, which are set for tonight. He missed the cut by one-tenth of a second with a time of 53.22 --- 1.28 seconds slower than the world-record time he set at nationals. 

Peirsol will have a shot at redemption in the 200 back. The finals for that race are Thursday. He also will compete in the 50 back.

Still, he will have to be able to move past the disappointment and shock of missing the finals. Although Peirsol told reporters in Rome that his strategy went awry and "completely misjudged'' the race, it's worth noting that he was one of just three swimmers in the semifinals who did not wear one of the controversial polyurethane swimsuits.

Wildeboer, meanwhile, did qualify and was sporting polyurethane. When he set the world record earlier this month, he was wearing the Jaked J01 swimsuit. Those polyurethane suits will be banned in 2010, but are fair game for these world championships.

"I've already said that everything is possible with these swimsuits,'' Wildeboer told reporters after he set the record at the Mediterranean Games in Italy. "The work and the talent aren't so important yet with the polyurethane swimsuit. It's not fair play but FINA has authorized them again and everyone uses them. I do it too.''

Still, Peirsol's record will be a tough one to crack. When he reclaimed his world-record time in the 100 back at nationals, he became the first swimmer to break the 52-second barrier.

"That was in my head," Peirsol said. "I was thinking (51.9) or better, to be honest with you. I was about where I thought I should be. Anytime you can break any sort of barrier, it's special. It was a very special night. It kind of revitalized me a little bit, which is something I think I needed.''

Not that that will make Peirsol rest easy during the finals. Aside from Wildeboer, another swimmer to watch will be Japan's Ryosuke Irie, who also has been threatening Peirsol's records.

"I'm only four-tenths (of a second) ahead of (Wildeboer)," Peirsol said, "and he improved a second-and-a-half to get the world record. He got to hold (the world record) for a week, but he'll get his chance again in Rome. The Japanese kid is going to be quick, too.''

Setting the pace in the backstroke events is nothing new for Peirsol. At 15, Peirsol became the youngest person to swim under two minutes in the 200 back. He was the first to swim under 53 seconds and became a three-time Olympian at the age of 25. He won gold in the 100 back at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

In his career, Peirsol has won eight world championship medals, seven gold, and five Olympic gold medals.

But proving he could still be one of the world's best at nationals provided a huge confidence boost.  

"Maybe just for myself," Peirsol said. "I needed some good swims. It's been a few years since I've actually felt good racing. The times haven't been indicative of that, but I've always tried to race regardless.''

The Austin, Texas, resident has no plans of slowing down, either.

"I still love the sport," said Peirsol, 26. "I still feel like I can do well. It's just a matter of staying focused and training well, and having a good time while you do it."

Story courtesy Red Line Editorial, Inc. Brian Peloza is a freelance contributor for teamusa.org. This story was not subject to the approval of the United States Olympic Committee or any National Governing Bodies.