Q&A with Aaron Peirsol
December 8th, 2004

Q&A with Aaron: THE ANSWERS

Hey everyone! Thank you so much for writing these questions and I'm more than happy to answer these for you. I'm sorry its taken some time for me to get back to all of them, but I've been traveling a lot and have had very little time to do much of anything. Thanks again and take it easy.

1.
anonymous:
This has nothing to do with swimming but what is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you?
What is the craziest thing a swimfan has ever done to meet you?

its pretty hard to embarrass me. But perhaps the most embarrassing thing that I can think of was when I was younger and I was still a rookie towel changer. I was such a rookie on this day that I didn't even use a towel and I didn't realize until my suit was already on. Everyone's jaw was on the floor and they just started laughing. There was really nothing for me to do but laugh too. I was a little embarrassed.
The craziest thing a swimfan has ever done to meet me is probably travel around the globe to do it. I don't want to spill to many details. I saw her last summer and I hear I'll see her this summer in Montreal.

2.
Mary the froggie, from France and From: Angela (Ga)
a year ago, there was only one website about you ; and since the Olympics, there are several, one forum, people are talking about your privacy, your religion, your family (apart from your sister who swims too), do you think people have to know that, that the part of the job?
Tell the truth how do you feel about hundreds of thousands of girls and women fantasizing about you at any given moment of the day!

That last part you mentioned is very interesting. That would be something if it were true. As far as the privacy issue goes, I feel I still haven't given that up. Theres nothing that has been said that would make me feel uncomfortable. I think I understand the situation I'm in, and for the most part, it doesn't seem like people are prying too deep. And if there are that many women fantasizing about me at any given moment, I haven't seen too many yet.

3.
Claudia, Germany.
Hi Aaron, congratulations to your great performance in Athens and Indianapolis. I heard that your will swim at the Qantas Skins, will you swim at World Cup meets as well? And if so which ones? Take care

well I just got done with both of those meets. They were tons of fun. It was great to see some of my Aussie buddies and see Australia again. That is one awesome country. I think I might try to do some more world cup meets as well; which ones, I don't know yet. I guess we'll see how long it takes to get back into decent enough shape to do what I want.

4.
Limor, Israel
Aaron, what are you plans for the near future(2008 Olympic in China and University studies? )/year.

Oh, well this is always a tough question. I'm definitely going to try for the Beijing Olympics, and finish school by 2006...maybe 2007...we'll see. As far as anything else, my plans are always fairly loose. Now I suppose I'll do more traveling on my own as opposed to traveling with Texas for college meets. Now that I've done something so special for myself, I'll probably also go back to other things that I loved doing so much but couldn't for certain reasons. I'll skate a little more and play some volleyball here and there, for example. Now that the Olympic is over I can...risk a little more, I guess you could say. But don't tell my coach.

5.
Mary (IT)
Hi Aaron! First of all congratulations on your Olympic medals! I'd like to know what your typical practice day before a big meet consists of.

Thanks hey Mary, This is also a tough question, for my preparation always changes. It depends if I'm getting ready for a long course meet or a short course, or even yards and meters. But since I'm mostly swimming long course now, I'll start there. I usually stop lifting weights about 6 weeks out. At that time I'll also cut back on how much swimming I do in a workout, and it gradually decreases from about 6 grand to about a grand or 2 for a single workout. Right up into the meet we're tapering pretty hard, getting lots of rest and eating well. The week before the meet we might wake up at 7, head over to the pool and do a couple thousand meters. Then we'll probably just take the day easy, get some sun and relax. But I'll always try to stay somewhat active just so I don't atrophy before the meet. Then we'll do another 2 or 3 grand at night and go to bed early. That's pretty much it.

6.
Diana Coronado, Lima, Peru (Latin America)
This is a great idea. I hope Aaron could answer some of my questions.
What does he feel under the water?
He is now 21, he's gotten 3 gold medals at the Olympics, he is a very friendly guy and his family is so proud of him. Seems that right now he has everything. Is something missing? Thanks for your attention

Hey Diana, Hmmmm, that's an interesting first question. The best answer I can come up with is, 'wet.' but, in all seriousness, I feel at home. I like that next question Diana. I think that one thing I've learned is that no matter what you have there is always something missing. But I think that's actually healthy though. But, I am pretty happy, there's no doubt about that. This fall I'm doing a lot of great traveling and having a lot of downtime to come off of these great four years. Everything's great.

7.
Kathy from Chandler, Arizona (suburb of Phoenix)
I hear that NCAA swimming competitions are very very tough. So that is why I am curious as to why did you give up eligibility for racing collegiately? Thank you

Hey Kathy, I totally understand your question. Leaving my college team to become a professional was not an easy decision. It took a lot of thinking and talking about it. I learned more in my two years of NCAA swimming while swimming with the Longhorns than I have in most of the 8 years before that. The atmosphere for swimming fast and having fun is so pronounced in college swimming, its almost contagious. But, in a sport like swimming, the best opportunity for a swimmer to make a living is during the Olympic year. It was pretty well understood that going pro this year was a possibility before I even started college. I was happy I got to swim those two years at Texas, and I'll be back, just not in the meets.

8.
Anja from Slovenia, Europe
I was wondering, what makes him so relaxed before the race (at least he looks very relaxed and confident). Does he have any special preparations a day or hours before the race?

Hey Anja, I've always felt that if I know I've done all that I can do up to my race, that all that's left to do is just swim it, which really isn't that bad. As long as you train to prepare to race and to race, you'll do fine. There's nothing more I can do to improve my race right before I swim it, so there's no point in worrying about that stuff. And there really aren't any specific preparations. I like just winging it.

9.
camilla
I have some questions for Aaron Peirsol they might sound lame but here goes anyway.
Aaron do you have a girlfriend? Aaron what kind of girl do you like?
If you were stuck on a island and you could only have one thing what would it be?
If you could have any occupation what would it be?

Hey Camilla Thanks for the questions. No darlin, I don't have a girlfriend. There's no one kind of girl I like. I like every little thing just as much. Most importantly, its all about her personality, by far. If I were stuck on an island with the option of only one thing, it would be a girl. Wink. And If I could have any job, it would have to be a flexible one. I love the outdoors. There are so many jobs I find intriguing. A buddy of mine just became a firefighter, he was also a beach lifeguard. That wouldn't be too bad. I've always had a kind of affinity towards medical doctors as well. I could fly F-14s; that would be sweet. I could do just about anything.

10.
My name is Ksenija. I come from Slovenia (Europe). I like swimming a lot, but I am not good swimmer.
First of all congratulations on all your accomplishments Aaron. I enjoyed watching you in Athens. I don¹t know you, but you look like a very nice person.
I would like to know how is your day look like on swimming competition. What is your most memorable race throughout your entire career? How do you concentrate before you race and have you ever been in Slovenia? Our country is small but very beautiful, you have to visit it sometimes in future.
Thank you so much! Good luck in future.

Ksenija, Thanks you very much. Your first question I kind of answered in one of the previous ones. I just rest a lot for the most part. But I also like to get out and take my mind off the race when I can. I like the question about my most memorable race. I'd say mmy most memorable race is actually a race I performed in early 2000. I say this because its been four years and I still have a affinity toward it. It was a 200 back at spring nationals and I dropped about 2 and half second to go 1:57.03. It was awesome and it felt so good. I've heard Slovenia is very beautiful, and I'm sure I'll get there some time in my life.

This Q&A will be added to the future Fan Section, so that you can always go there and read it.