Peirsol siblings together on world stage

Aaron Peirsol scoffs at the notion he is different than his younger sister, Hayley.

“We’re the same,” he said Saturday in a phone interview from Australia. “We are more alike than different.”

After the week is through, the siblings hope to be wearing the same type of medal around their respective necks. It’s gold and that’s what they’re striving for at the FINA World Championships in Melbourne, Australia.

They’ll start competing on the same day, Monday, Aaron in the 100-meter backstroke, Hayley in the 1,500 freestyle.

Looking for some more similarities?

They are close in age and both graduated from Newport Harbor High. Aaron turned his tassel with the Sailors in 2002 and Hayley followed the year after.

But there are many differences, too.

Aaron Peirsol is an established swimming star. He’s a two-time Olympian with three gold medals. He’s also sometimes referred to as the Backstroke King, as he has the world record in the 200 and 100 back.

Hayley Peirsol, on the other hand, is known because of an impressive resume, yet still enters these World Championships at an uncharted stage of her life.

“I feel like I’m starting over,” Hayley Peirsol said Saturday from Australia. “I’m done with Auburn for now. I’m going to take a year off. I’m planning to go back and finish. But now I’m starting over. It’s a great time in my life. I’m really excited about what’s to come.”

She recently reveled in that excitement, as she can now say she shares the same label as her older brother. Shortly after winning the 1,650-yard freestyle for Auburn at the NCAA Championships March 10, Hayley Peirsol became a pro swimmer. She got picked up by TYR.

“It was just kind of surreal realizing that I’m a pro athlete,” Hayley said. “It’s one of those things you think about when you are younger. And now it makes me realize that I’m grown up. My job is now swimming. It seems like it has always been that way, but now it’s really my job.”

And, to excel in her career, she trains rigorously. Yes, that’s the same as her brother, but therein lies another difference. During these months leading up to the 2008 Olympics in Bejing, Hayley will train in Michigan, with Club Wolverine. Aaron will be in Austin, Texas with Longhorn Aquatics.

Throughout their childhood, they seemed inseparable. Back then, they swam for the same clubs, ate meals together and shared the same type of training stories. Back then, it was so easy to get along. It was easy to tell they were friends as well as brother and sister.

Of course they argued at times. That happens under a roof that has two young swimmers with competitive mentalities. But the love was always there.

It remains, even though they don’t see each other as often. Before the world championships, the Peirsols had not seen each other since Christmas. That’s when Hayley and Aaron went shopping together at some malls in Austin.

When they met up again in Australia, they were grateful to have time together again.

“As you get older, you appreciate things more,” Hayley said. “It’s so great to have him here. I realize how fortunate I am, and we are, to be in this position.”

The Peirsols have already achieved a rarity in World Championships history and they hope to duplicate it. In 2003, they became the only siblings to medal at the World Championships, in Barcelona, Spain.

Aaron won gold in the 100 back and Hayley silver in the 1,500 free.

“I was looking forward to this trip [to Australia] because we get to spend time with each other,” Aaron said. “With school and swimming, we only get to see each other once or twice a year. To be swimming with her at this level, it’s a great feeling.”

SCHEDULE

Monday

100 backstroke semi -- Aaron

1,500 freestyle prelims -- Hayley

100 back prelims -- Aaron

Tuesday

Women’s 1,500 free final

Men’s 100 back final

Thursday

Men’s 200 back semi

Men’s 200 back prelims

Friday

Women’s 800 free prelims

Men’s 200 back final

Saturday

Women’s 800 free final

Sunday

Men’s 400 medley relay