Hayley Peirsol is coming off another good summer, traveling to Turkey as part of the U.S. team for the World University Games, where she won gold in the 1,500 free, silver in the 800 free, and picked up gold on the 800 free relay. The Auburn swimmer talks about her famous brother Aaron, and just where in the world you might find her later in life in this week’s 20 Question Tuesday with special correspondent Bob Schaller.
1 What did you take out of this summer?
Hayley: Training with (U.S. coaches) Jon (Urbanchek) and Dave Salo was so much fun! It was a really good experience. Jon was mostly my coach, and he was so nice to get to know him: I trust him; he knew was he was doing, is a very funny man and very entertaining. So the answer (laughs) I guess is that from this summer I took a lot of hard work – I worked hard the whole time – and focused on my training, and that has followed into this, the school year.
2 Were you happy with your performance at WUGs?
Hayley: I would’ve liked to have done better. I think that in general, though, I was really pleased with the results, but I do know I could’ve gone faster. With my training going the way it has, I do have that potential to go faster, and to know that I could have, motivates me.
3 What was the deal with the women on the WUG team – was that a fun group, or what?
Hayley: There was a group of us five girls – Kim Vandenberg, Sarah Wanezek, Leah Retrum, Demerae Christianson and me – and we just had so much fun. The whole team was fun. But that group…we got to know each other and it was nice. The trip itself – we thought we might get to see more of Turkey. We did go to the city and walk around and see something besides the Athletes Village; we were supposed to go to the beach or something, but mostly, we just spent time together, and I got to know some really neat people in that group.
4 So the friendships stick out that much?
Hayley: Totally, they do. When you go on a trip with people – and new people you’ve never met before – you have a great chance to get to know those girls, and become closer to ones you do know. You latch onto the people you feel most comfortable with. And we just had so much fun. That’s one of those things we will remember too – the friendship. We’ll remember the swimming too, but not just that. We still stay in touch all the time.
5 You all at Auburn get second at the 2005 NCAA and it seemed like your team finished last in some people’s eyes – what’s up with that?
Hayley: It’s one of those things where when you’re on top, you want to stay there. But when you are on the top it’s so much harder to keep repeating than it is to come from the bottom and work your way up. Staying at the top is tougher. So we’re more excited than very on our team for this year. Last year was definitely a reality check. It takes a lot of hard work – it’s not easy to win the NCAAs. We’re all swimming well right now.
6 Are you going to diversify and try some different strokes this year or stick with the distance freestyle?
Hayley: Well (laughs) I’m definitely not going to deal with the sprinting aspect! Because in those I am pathetic – it’s embarrassing! I just don’t have the fast-twitch muscle. So I’m pretty set in my events. I will do some IM, but mostly freestyle distance. I won’t do seriously much of anything else. I might do it in (college) dual meets or something like that.
7 Hey, since your brother, Aaron Peirsol, is doing so well now, are you going to hit him up big-time for a Christmas present?
Hayley: No kidding! He is very good with his money. He’s also very thoughtful. He got me a very good birthday present (Aug. 9 is Hayley’s birthday), a Marc Jacobs bag. I use it every day. It’s a girl thing (laughs), so I know he got a little help from our Mom. But Aaron is definitely very generous with his money.
8 When USA Swimming started 20 Question Tuesday, Aaron was one of the first participants, and he related a story about you calling the police on him for no reason – is your take different?
Hayley: I was such a little hellion! I could literally do anything and get away with it. I would run to my grandpa and tell him that Aaron as hitting me just to see Grandpa give Aaron the talk! Aaron really did have to put with quite a bit. And I do remember calling the police. He told you the story correctly. We were just sitting at home, and somehow he made me mad. I told him that I could call the cops on him and they’d come get him. He told me he didn’t believe I’d call the police. “Oh yes I will!” I told him. And I did. I came back and sat down, and Aaron said, “Oh my gosh, you actually did it.” But I really only did it to prove him wrong – that I would do it. But, we were both in shock that I did it. You can imagine my parents’ reaction when they got home. Poor Aaron – he did put up with a lot!
9 You don’t torture him anymore, do you?
Hayley: I am (laughs) good now – I don’t do those things anymore. He’s a very good big brother. We’re both actually very laid back people. I think coming to college, we got closer – you don’t realize what you have until you aren’t around it anymore. I miss him now more than ever. I’m getting more mature but (laughs) I don’t know about him!
10 What do you do to relax or unwind?
Hayley: I really have not relaxed in a long time! I don’t know…on Sundays, I like to sleep in really late – because that’s the only morning I get to sleep in. I get up, have a big huge breakfast and watch the Food Channel and Food Network – which I love! Other times I just hang out with friends. I am kind of boring! We go to movies when we have the time. You do that when you get the chance to relax – you take advantage of it.
11 What’s life like at Auburn these days?
Hayely: This is the craziest year I’ve ever had. We have a new coach (Dorsey Tierney-Walker), who is awesome. I love her so much. She used to coach at Indiana. She really knows what she’s doing. We’re doing a lot more thing this year like running a couple of times a week, lifting. We still swim doubles every day except Wednesday…I have such a planned out schedule; I go to class and think about how I am going to eat for 45 minutes that night, study for 1½ hours until I go to bed, and then go straight to bed. The cycle just starts over again each day.
12 What is so great about Auburn?
Hayley: For me picking a college, I know it’s the team – the team aspect. We say it all the time, but we are so close, our guys and girls teams, and we get along so well and mesh really well together. I think that’s huge, just so important. That’s what drew me to Auburn.
13 What are you studying?
Hayley: I’m studying criminology right now, something…basically criminology – I don’t even know the name of my major! And I don’t know what you can do (laughs) with it! Obviously you could go to the FBI and work with criminals and murderers and things like that. I’m not sure what I’ll do with it. I’m really interested in true crime. I grew up watching Unsolved Mysteries! Okay, seriously, when I’m older I want to get into nutrition. I just kind of recently realized that. My teammates get a laugh out of it: “What will you do with criminology and murderers? Teach them how to eat well and exercise properly?” (Laughs).
14 Is this a breakout year for your potentially?
Hayley: Knock on wood, I don’t want to jinx myself, but I am having good year and things are going well. I think I’m just going to run with it and see where I do end up. I come into practice every day and work my butt off, so it should work out in the end. I think as you get older, you really realize that sleep and nutrition are so important. It’s a matter of prioritizing things, knowing what you should and shouldn’t be doing. That’s made a huge difference over the summer and into this year, so far. So I’ve changed my attitude: If I don’t want to go to bed, I do because I need to go to bed if I’m going to function properly the next day. I had a lot of time on my hands this summer and did nothing but swim and read up on nutrition and those kinds of things. Usually, someone says that and you think, “Oh, they read an article on it and it went in one ear and out the other.” But for me, I really learned a lot about it, and already it’s made a huge difference for me.
15 It’s the holidays, where do you shop?
Hayley: Oh, good question! Because at Auburn, it’s a smaller community, so at our mall the nicest things we have are Payless and Victoria Secret! But Auburn is definitely becoming more fashionable. Still, it’s hard to go from California – L.A., the fashion capital of the world – and come to a place that has limited shopping compared to that. But the stores are getting nicer clothes here. I shop online at RevolveClothing.com. I’ve really gotten myself into trouble with my Dad for that! I’ll get my scholarship check and go online and shop instead of (laughs) paying the next three month’s rent like I’m supposed to!
16 We know you bugged your brother – was that competitiveness a big part of you growing up, and maybe in other sports too?
Hayley: I was really competitive. I just remember that I wasn’t ever good at land sports – I was definitely the “cherry picker” in soccer. I did a little bit of everything but not on teams for all the sport or anything. I really liked running but never got into cross-country or anything. Having two brothers – one is a stepbrother, and we have a stepsister, too – I had to compare myself to all of them competitively. We’d compete at everything. We’d (laughs) go to the beach and my Mom, to get us out of her hair, would point and say, “Race to that rock and back.” Of course, Aaron can’t run to save his life, so I always beat him, and he hated it! I just wanted to be like the boys – I was a huge tomboy.
17 Where would you like to vacation?
Hayley: Actually, we went to Costa Rica this summer. It’s just awesome. For one of our Christmas presents, Aaron and my Dad pulled out this videotape, and it was this beautiful piece of property – land – in Costa Rica. Aaron was like, “This is where we’re going to build our house a few years down the road.” That was really exciting. It’s such a beautiful country. The people there are so nice: They have close to nothing, yet they are so happy and content with their lives.
18 You finish competing for Auburn not this spring, but next spring – what will you do until 2008?
Hayley: I’m going to be here at Auburn for five years – in school. I’m on (laughs) the five-year plan. So it’s going to lead me up to the Olympic Trials anyway. The chances are yes, if things keep going, I’ll keep going until 2008, but I want to take it one year at a time and enjoy it. It’s just crazy to think it’s almost 2006 – time goes so fast! After the 2008 Olympics…something I’ve always wanted to try is triathlons, so I’d like to be into that.
19 What keeps you going on mornings when you don’t feel like it?
Hayley: Knowing that everyone else on the team is in the same boat as you. Everyone has tests – bad days. You all are going through the same thing. You have that someone to lean on when you have that terrible day, just like it’s great to have someone to share that great day with. So you kind of rely on them to talk to, to vent to. It’s just so huge to have teammates. You count on them, and they count on you.
20 Explain what it’s like to be asked for your autograph?
Hayley: It’s definitely so much fun when someone wants your autograph. I mean, think about it – it’s just really nice because you’ve worked hard and trained hard every day, and it pays off. One of the ways it pays off – one of the benefits – is that someone notices, appreciates it, and respects you for it. So getting asked for an autograph inspires and motivates me. It means a lot.
-----