Aaron Peirsol was born on July 23, 1983 in Orange, Calif to Tim Hartig and Wela Peirsol. The 2003 NCAA Swimmer of the Year after setting four NCAA, American, U.S. Open and school records as well as winning four titles and earning six NCAA All-America honors and one NCAA All-America Honorable Mention award. Set a new American, NCAA, U.S. Open and school record in the prelims of the 200-yard backstroke at the NCAA Championships (3/27-29) with a time of 1:40.01. Broke his own American, NCAA, U.S. Open and school record in the finals of the 200-yard backstroke at the NCAA Championships when he became the first person ever to go under 1:40.00 in the event with a time of 1:39.16. Aaron has just won the Men's 100m Backstroke Gold Medal in Athens 2004