Aaron Peirsol solidified his status as the man to beat in the backstroke with victory in the 100m final at the Athens Olympics this evening.
The 21-year-old American, who completed a backstroke double at the 2003 world championships, claimed his first Olympic gold medal in 54.06sec, with Austrian Markus Rogan surging from eighth at the turn to claim the silver in 54.35.
Japan's Tomomi Morita was third in 54.36, ahead of Sydney backstroke star Lenny Krayzelburg and Australian Matt Welsh - who had led at the halfway point.
Peirsol is attempting to emulate Krayzelburg's feat of four years ago by winning the backstroke double and the medley relay.
Filed by James Boylan
