WORLD CHAMPION SWIMMER AARON PEIRSOL FEATURED AT MASTERS SWIMMING CLINIC-- October 15 & 16

On October 15, the Bozeman Masters Swim Club in Montana will host a USMS NIKE Swim Clinic featuring Aaron Peirsol.  Peirsol will conduct a four-hour Saturday program, providing demonstration and in-water instruction of adult swim stroke techniques for swimmers.

Referring to his upcoming participation, Peirsol reveals, "The clinic is an opportunity of a lifetime.  I have always wanted swimming to have an ambassador to travel throughout the United States and excite swimmers, and the community in general, about the great sport that I have dedicated my life to promoting.  Now I have that opportunity through Nike's partnership with groups like the Bozeman Masters." 

In September, Aaron Peirsol was voted the USA Swimming Athlete of the Year.  The award caps a stellar year where Peirsol won eight consecutive races, including three World Championship gold medals, and set two world records.

"It was a pleasant surprise," Peirsol said.  "I was the one who didn't think I'd win this award.  There were tons of great swims this year - Ian Crocker's 100 fly, and Brendan Hansen in the breaststrokes.  And Michael Phelps still swam eight events and won six medals.  So to win this award this year, I was completely humbled and very happy."

The California native began 2005 in style, breaking his own world record in the 100-meter backstroke at the World Championship Trials in Indianapolis, and then continued strong throughout the summer.  At the FINA World Championships in Montreal, July 24-31, he won gold medals in the 100 and 200 backstrokes and the 400 medley relay to bring his career total to seven world titles.

Additionally, he again broke his own world record - this time in the 200 back, an event in which he has not lost in an international competition since the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, where he was the silver medalist.  At the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool on Aug. 2, he posted first-place finishes in all three of his races, helping Team USA to a victory over rival Australia.

Bob Bruce, 2003 United States Masters Swimming Coach of the Year, tops off the weekend with a six-hour clinic program on Sunday morning.  Coach Bruce will present the hydrodynamics & biomechanics of swimming and provide individual underwater videotaping and group analysis of two of each participant's favorite swim strokes.

Bruce was the USA head coach for the FINA Masters World Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand in 2002 and Riccione, Italy in 2004.  Currently, Bruce serves as the head coach of the USMS High Altitude Training Camp at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs and chair of the USMS Coaches Committee.

On a daily basis, Bruce coaches 300 adult fitness swimmers, competitive swimmers, world record holders and triathletes in Bend, Oregon.  As the long distance chairman of Oregon Masters Swimming, his swimmers are known for achievements in open water racing, and his triathletes, both professional and amateur, have shown dramatic gains in swim efficiency, swim speed, and race performance.

In May, NIKE and USMS selected the Bozeman Masters Swim Club as the first recipient of the NIKE Award for United States Masters Swimming.  Under the award, NIKE Swim serves as the lead sponsor of the group and the 2005 USMS NIKE Swim Clinic.  Coach Suzi Thompson beams, "This type of high caliber adult swim clinic is new to Montana and should be highly informative, and fun!"  The clinic will be held at the Bozeman Swim Center.

CONTACT:  Suzi Thompson, 406-586-9799, suzithompson@mailblocks.com