The drama was heightened when Rogan, in support of his close friend Peirsol, suggested that perhaps the decision to disqualify him had been a political one, referencing how a few days earlier Peirsol had found himself in the headlines for accusing Japan’s Kosume Kitayima of cheating when he beat Peirsol’s fellow American, Brendan Hansen, in the 100m Breaststroke final.
"But to do this right, you've got to give it 110%.
Having established himself as arguably the greatest backstroker of all time, Peirsol mined further Olympic gold at the 2008 Beijing Games in the 100 backstroke, where he set a world record.
Aaron Wells Peirsol (born July 23, 1983) is an American former competition swimmer and backstroke specialist who is a former world champion and world record-holder. national team, he holds the world record in the men's 4×100-meter medley relay (long course).
He is a three-time Olympian and seven-time Olympic medalist (five gold, two silver). Individually, he currently holds the world record in the 200-meter backstroke event (long course).