Peirsol wins men's 100 backstroke
BEIJING (Reuters) - Aaron Peirsol shattered his own world record to win the men's 100 meters backstroke gold medal at the Beijing Olympics on Tuesday.
Peirsol stormed home on the last lap after being second at the turn to reach the wall first in 52.54 seconds, carving 0.35 off the previous world record he set at the U.S. Olympic trials six weeks ago.
Fellow American Matt Grevers finished second to claim the silver in 53.11 while Russia's Arkady Vyatchanin and Australia's Hayden Stoeckel dead-heated for the bronze in a time of 53.18.
Peirsol has dominated men's backstroke since he won his first 200m world title seven years ago and now has four Olympic gold medals after winning three at Athens four years ago.
(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
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