Peirsol rules 100 back

MELBOURNE, Australia — Three days before competing, Aaron Peirsol made sort of a prediction when he spoke about the World Championships and what he thought about breaking his own world records.

“I think this would be a good time,” Peirsol said. “I think that’s definitely necessary if you want to win these races.”

Peirsol, a Newport Harbor High product, shattered his world record in the 100-meter backstroke finishing in 52.98 seconds to win gold at the World Championships in Melbourne, Australia Tuesday. The previous record was 53.17 set on April 2, 2005.

Peirsol gained an early lead. He was at 25.8 seconds at the turn. He ended up finishing almost a half-second in front of teammate and silver medalist Ryan Lochte (53.50), while Great Britain’s Liam Tancock took the bronze in 53.61. Tancock actually held the lead at the turn.

For Peirsol, 23, it was his third straight gold in the event at the World Championships. He has won eight individual gold medals at the Worlds. He holds the world record for the 100 and 200 and is unbeaten in either event for five years, winning six world championships and two Olympic titles since 2001.

“I always thought of a good swimmer as someone who is consistent over their whole career and that’s what I’m trying to do,” Peirsol told the Associated Press. “I’m extremely elated. At a meet like this it’s not so much the time but the place.”

Peirsol was one of three American swimmers who broke world records at the Rod Laver Center. Michael Phelps broke the record in the 200 freestyle, coming in at 43.86, besting the 1:44.06 set by Australia’s Ian Thorpe. Natalie Coughlin, like Peirsol, broke her own world record in the 100 back, finishing in 59.44.

“To be honest, I didn’t know if I was capable,” Peirsol told usaswim.org. “I was comfortable but the jitters went away when I saw Phelps swim and then my sister swim and Natalie of course.

“I’ve wanted to break that barrier ever since I did 53.1 [seconds]. The problem was I was stronger when I did that then ever before. I’ve almost done everything I wanted to do.”

Since Peirsol knew he would most likely need a record-breaking performance to win, he credited his competitors after the race.

“I haven’t felt that pushed in some time by the guys,” Peirsol said. “That’s great.”

Even Australia’s Matt Welsh was amazed by Peirsol’s performance. Welsh was the last man to win the 100 back world title before Peirsol made the event his own.

“Under 53 seconds just seems wrong,” Welsh said. “I can’t do that in freestyle.”

Peirsol, who has held the world record in the 100 back since the 2004 Olympics in Athens, will swim his specialty, the 200 backstroke, on Friday.

In addition to competing in the backstroke races, Peirsol, who graduated from Newport Harbor in 2002, will be in the men’s 400 medley relay.

HAYLEY TAKES FIFTH

Hayley Peirsol, a Newport Harbor product and the younger sister of Aaron Peirsol, finished fifth in the 1,500 freestyle at the World Championships in Melbourne, Australia.

Hayley Peirsol had qualified first on Monday, but reigning world champion Kate Ziegler took over on Tuesday. Ziegler finished in 15:53.05, which was one second shy of Janet Evan’s 19-year-old mark. Peirsol finished in 16:12.84.