blogs

The lack of a world or European record at the Paris Open had some lamenting a near-miss for the event but organizers need not be so pessimistic. There are more ways that records to measure a meet and this one was high on excellent, world-class performances, an event brimming with important notes on the road to Beijing, loaded with warnings for those who care to heed them. It was full of promise too: the Open is worth encouraging (though get the format and timing wrong and it will sink into the swill of all those other meets that make up a calendar crying out for the chop).

In the 200m backstroke, Alessia Filippi, of Italy, defeated world champion Margaret Hoelzer, 2:09.06 to 2:09.55 in a stroke-for-stroke battle that got no loser than the 0.66sec that split the two rivals at the first turn.

Having broken the world record over 100m backstroke at Melbourne and then slip a touch to second and suffer the loss of his world record to US teammate Ryan Lochte over 200m, Aaron Peirsol might have taken the view that two laps is a safer option than four in the future.

Bad new for rivals: no chance. As he emerged from the smoothest 1:57.62 morning heats swim you can imagine at the Paris Open, Peirsol, who turned 24 on July 23, was asked whether the quickest 100 ever would at some stage translate to the fastest 200 ever.

"Hopefully it does," said the Olympic champion. "With speed and endurance, you look to find a good balance between the two. I've been training well enough to know that the 200 is up there [above] the 100. My 200 is still the main focus. I think I can have a good 100 too but the 200 is the one."

A plastic dinner tray from McDonald's doesn't belong on the beach. But when Aaron Peirsol found a tray in the sand at Newport Beach, Calif., a few years ago, he picked it up and put it to new use. Plunging into the surf, the world's fastest backstroker used it as a kickboard, paddling into the ocean waters alongside the city where he grew up. As he swam, he thought about how he had explored the back bays of Newport Beach as a kid, poking at ocean creatures and contemplating the never-ending blue. About how this ocean he once knew as a junior lifeguard was changing. How the first rains each spring now bring runoff and bacterial growth that temporarily close the beach.

I'm headed out in just two days ... I'm so stoked!

AP

Today is my birthday - the big 2-4.

Most competitive swimmers are headed to Indianapolis at the end of this month for the U.S. Nationals competition, but alas, I won’t be there. Instead, I’m off to the City of Lights for the Paris Swimming Open.

I’ve never been to Paris before, so I can’t wait to take in the sights and the food.

More than 20 nations are supposed to be at this competition, which should be a nice opportunity to see what I need to work on and who I need to watch out for with the Olympics only a year or so away. I plan on swimming well and having a great time.

PARIS, France, July 19. While many of the top American athletes will gather at the Indiana University Natatorium for the United States Summer Nationals from July 31-August 4, remember to keep an eye on Paris. Facing top-flight competition across the pond, the likes of Aaron Peirsol and Amanda Beard will highlight their summer seasons in a different venue. Don't be surprised if both athletes deliver exceptional performances.

Last week, at the Texas Senior Circuit Championships, Peirsol used the low-profile competition to send a statement to the rest of the world. Not only did Peirsol, the finest backstroker in history, pop a spectacular time of 1:55.46 in the 200 distance, he also dipped below the two-minute barrier in the 200 butterfly, an event hardly a focus for the Southern California native. The effort in the fly was just another indication of Peirsol's vast talent.

No one ever said the training for the summer Olympics in Beijing would be a pleasure cruise. I’ve been working hard in the pool and on land, believe it or not, to improve my swimming.

I was very pleased with my performance at the recent Texas Senior Circuit Championship where I broke the 2-minute mark for the 200-meter butterfly. Maybe you’re wondering what I was doing swimming the butterfly when everyone’s so used to seeing me compete in the backstroke. Well, when I was a kid I swam everything. Yet when a swimmer begins swimming on the international level, he/she usually begins to focus on their best stroke, and mine just happened to be backstroke. Eventually, people forget that you swim anything else but I’ve always trained those other strokes. Nonetheless, my breaststoke is still lacking. It’s tough to be a contender in all the strokes at an international level. But I do practice all the swimming strokes during my workouts – I like to shake things up from time to time.

Aaron Peirsol went his best ever in-season time (which means he was within striking distance of the world record) at the Texas Senior Meet. Not to be outdone, his teammate Hill Taylor one up’ed him by shattering the 50 backstroke world record (details to follow). Other parts of the country allowed youngsters to shine, but veteran Rachel Komisarz came through in fine form in the 100 fly.

Let’s start with Peirsol. I swam in the lane next to him, so let me assure this swim of his was impressive. Out quickly as always (56.51) he was equally good on the last 100, bringing it home in 58.9, for an incredible 1:55.46. That’s almost exactly a second off of the World Record. Not bad for “just another meet in Texas.” Other notable swims on the men’s side were Matthew McGinnis’ 200 free (1:49.01), followed by teammate Ryan Verlatti (1:50.91). Eric Shanteau beat out National Teamer Matt Lowe in the 100 breast (1:02.50 to 1:03.74), Ian Crocker took his baby (the 100 fly) in 52.44, followed by Dan Rohleder (53.91), and Agustin “Goose” Magruder took the 400 IM (4:30.19).

AUSTIN, Texas, July 13. Best known for his wide array of backstroke accomplishments, ranging from Olympic titles to world records to world championships, Aaron Peirsol put on a show in another realm Friday night. Competing at the Texas Senior Circuit Championships, Peirsol cracked the two-minute barrier in the 200 butterfly.

The reigning Olympic champ in the 100 and 200 backstroke events and the only man in history to crack the 53-second barrier in the 100 back, Peirsol clocked 1:59.66 in the 200 butterfly. The swim supplied a win over Longhorn Aquatics teammate Michael Klueh, who registered a fine performance of 2:00.53. More, the effort was proof of Peirsol's versatility, which sometimes goes overlooked. Should he desire, there's little doubt Peirsol could be an international player in the 200 freestyle and 200 individual medley.

Hey racers, hope everyone’s summer’s going as well as mine. I wrapped up my studies earlier this week. I took this really interesting theater and dance class with a couple buddies from my team. It’s a far cry from the pool, getting on stage and performing scenes in front of a bunch of other students and a professor. I’ll admit I was hesitant at first, but I got into it after a while. I even played a cowboy for this scene I acted out from Sam Shepherd’s "Fool for Love." Yeehaw!

I’m a government major here at Texas, but I took a theater class for fun, as an elective. The major itself is streamlined toward what would be a political science degree, however, they don’t have that major at UT, so government is the next best thing. I really enjoy learning about the history of politics and government, and my professors are actually the ones who got me fascinated with it.