Aaron Peirsol

Name: Aaron Wells Peirsol

Introduction: Aaron Peirsol is an American former competition swimmer and backstroke specialist. Widely regarded as the greatest backstroker of all time, he is a highly decorated Olympian and world champion, known for his dominance in the backstroke events and his multiple world records.

Date of birth: July 23, 1983

Height: 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m)

Place of birth: Newport Beach, California, U.S. (He was born in Irvine, California).

Family:

Parents’ names: Scott Peirsol (father, a captain) and Wella Peirsol (mother, a retired dental hygienist). His mother’s maiden name was Morrison.
Siblings: Hayley Peirsol (younger sister), who is also a former competition swimmer and Olympic medalist.
Spouse: No publicly known spouse. (Note: A recent search result erroneously linked him to Amanda Beard as his wife; this is incorrect. Amanda Beard is married to Sacha Brown.)
Children: No publicly known children.
Relatives: His parents and sister, Hayley Peirsol.

Profession: Former professional swimmer, ocean conservation advocate.

Nationality: American

Religion: Information not consistently available.

College or university attended: University of Texas at Austin (graduated in 2006 with a degree in Government).

Biography and What Famous For:

Aaron Peirsol began swimming at a young age, displaying an innate talent for backstroke. He quickly rose through the ranks, qualifying for his first Junior Nationals at 13 and first Senior Nationals at 14.

He made his international debut at the 1999 Pan American Games, winning a silver medal in the 200-meter backstroke at just 16 years old. His Olympic debut came shortly after.

Aaron Peirsol is most famous for:

Dominance in Backstroke: He is considered the greatest backstroke swimmer of all time, consistently setting and breaking world records throughout his career. He broke the world record in the 100m backstroke six times and the 200m backstroke seven times in long course, with some of his records standing for many years after his retirement.
Seven-Time Olympic Medalist (5 Gold, 2 Silver):
- 2000 Sydney Olympics: Silver in 200m backstroke (at age 17, his Olympic debut).
- 2004 Athens Olympics: Gold in 100m backstroke, Gold in 200m backstroke, Gold in 4x100m medley relay. He controversially faced disqualification in the 200m backstroke final due to an alleged illegal turn, but the decision was overturned, allowing him to retain his gold.
- 2008 Beijing Olympics: Gold in 100m backstroke (setting a new world record), Gold in 4x100m medley relay, Silver in 200m backstroke (finishing behind compatriot Ryan Lochte).
Ten-Time Long Course World Champion: He won numerous gold medals at the FINA World Aquatics Championships (2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009), often sweeping the backstroke events and contributing to medley relay victories. He amassed 29 gold, 6 silver, and 1 bronze medal in major international competitions, totaling 36 medals.
World Record Holder: At the time of his retirement in 2011, he held the world records in both the 100m and 200m backstroke (long course), a testament to his sustained excellence.

After retiring from competitive swimming in 2011, Peirsol became involved in ocean conservation. He is an ambassador for organizations like Oceana and the Surfrider Foundation, using his platform to advocate for marine protection. He also occasionally serves as a seasonal lifeguard.

Have participated (Selected Career Highlights):

Olympic Games:

2000 Sydney: Silver (200m backstroke)
2004 Athens: Gold (100m backstroke), Gold (200m backstroke), Gold (4x100m medley relay)
2008 Beijing: Gold (100m backstroke), Gold (4x100m medley relay), Silver (200m backstroke)

World Aquatics Championships (Long Course):

2001 Fukuoka: Gold (200m backstroke)
2003 Barcelona: Gold (100m backstroke), Gold (200m backstroke), Gold (4x100m medley relay), Silver (4x200m freestyle relay)
2005 Montreal: Gold (100m backstroke), Gold (200m backstroke), Gold (4x100m medley relay)
2007 Melbourne: Gold (100m backstroke), Silver (200m backstroke)
2009 Rome: Gold (200m backstroke), Gold (4x100m medley relay)

Pan Pacific Swimming Championships:

2002 Yokohama: Gold (100m backstroke), Gold (200m backstroke), Gold (4x100m medley relay)
2006 Victoria: Gold (100m backstroke), Gold (200m backstroke), Gold (4x100m medley relay)
2010 Irvine: Gold (100m backstroke), Gold (4x100m medley relay)

World Records (Long Course):

100m backstroke (set/reclaimed multiple times, including 51.94 in 2008)
200m backstroke (set/reclaimed multiple times, including 1:51.92 in 2009, which remained the world record for many years)
4x100m medley relay (part of multiple world record-setting teams)

Other: