PHOENIX, Arizona, February 1. DURING his Morning Swim Show interview taped today, Texas coach Eddie Reese confirmed that five-time Olympic gold medalist Aaron Peirsol has decided to retire.
"I think he has made it official-unofficial or unofficial-official that he is not going to 2012," Reese told Swimming World's Peter Busch in the interview clip shown below. In response to Busch's question on whether Peirsol is "hanging it up," Reese stated that "He has done that."
Reese's full Morning Swim Show interview is scheduled to be broadcast tomorrow (Feb. 2).
Backstroke king Peirsol has an illustrious resume to his credit with two gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics as well as three golds at the 2004 Athens Olympics that included a backstroke sweep in the 100 and 200. He has also won 10 long course world titles as well as six world titles in the short course pool.
Check out the OC Register for extensive quotes from Peirsol considering his retirement.