Aaron Peirsol
Aaron Peirsol
Aaron Wells Peirsolis an American former competition swimmer and backstroke specialist who is a former world champion and world record-holder. He is a three-time Olympian and seven-time Olympic medalist. As a member of the U.S. national team, he holds the world record in the men's 4×100-meter medley relay. Individually, he currently holds the world record in the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke events. In February 2011, Peirsol announced his retirement, saying, "I ended up doing everything I set out to do."...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionSwimmer
Date of Birth23 July 1983
CityIrvine, CA
CountryUnited States of America
Coming off the Olympics and breaking the world record, it's been pretty spectacular. I'm happy with my season.
Overall, it was pretty much where I wanted to go tonight. My 100 (back) was pretty good, so I have a good shot tomorrow. I don't want to race anybody in particular. I just want to race. I'm not scared of anybody.
I'm a part of a program called Toyota's Engines of Change Program. The message is that anyone can make a difference in their community or for whatever cause they feel strongly about. Everyone can be an Engine of Change.
I'm starting to feel very possessive about it. I feel like I've got a good grip on it, only in the sense that I know how I need to swim it, whether I'm feeling good, bad or in between.
No one told me anything. I don't know what I did. I have to figure it out. It sounds pretty bogus to me.
We don't swim for the attention. We don't swim to be rock stars. There is something beautiful about being in an anonymous sport and being fairly anonymous. It enables you do something you love without any of the other effects.
Retiring is a strange word. I'm 27 years old. I've still got stuff to do.
I think people will be surprised at how fast they go next year. I do think world records will get broken next year.
I have always had a very natural connection to the water, and that connection stems from the ocean itself.
People should make a stand for the things they love and want to see survive infinite generations.
I think the best thing I can hope to achieve is to educate, or make aware, as many people as possible on how the little things they do every day really do affect our environment.
The ocean is the lifeblood of our world.
If we were to lose our fish that we appreciate so much by overfishing; or if we were to lose some of our favorite beaches to overbuilding and pollution, then how would we feel? It's become a case of not knowing what you've got until it's gone.
We can still maintain our coasts and oceans for the generations to come, who deserve what we have.