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29 May 2008 05:17 PM

Focus on the Olympics: Chip Peterson (2008 Swimming Hopeful)

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

Welcome to our Focus on the Olympics articles that introduces you to our Olympic athletes and hopefuls that will be competing in Beijing this summer. Chip's love of the water is a family thing dating back to World War II and the Navy.

Meet Chip Peterson

Chip comes from a water-loving family that includes his brother, Perry, who swam through high school and continues Masters swimming today; his father, Pete, who studies sea life and teaches marine biology at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and is still a recreational swimmer; and his grandfather, who captained a Naval ship during World War II. Chip graduated from West Carteret High School in Morehead City, N.C., where he swam for four years. He also competed in club swimming for 13 years and was a salutatorian of his high school class. Chip is majoring in biology at the University of North Carolina. His favorite television shows are Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Scrubs

Why Root for Him?

Chip was a U.S. National Team member in 2005 and 2006, as well as a member of U.S. Junior National Team in 2004. In 2005, he was the world champion in the 10-kilometer open water swim and the U.S. national champion in the 1500-meter free. In addition, Chip won the 10k national title in 2006 and the 10-kilometer open water championship at both the Pan-Pac Championships and the Pan American Championships.

In 2007, Chip finished first and second respectively in the 5K and 10K Open Water National Champion and the 10K Open Water Swimming World Championships Trials. His second place finish in the World Championships Trials qualified him for the 2008 FINA Open Water World Swimming Championships, the qualifying event for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Performance Record

• 2007 Open Water National Champion - 5K, 10K
• 2007 10K Open Water Swimming World Championships Trials - 2nd
• 2006 10k champion at Mutual of Omaha Pan Pacific Championships
• 2006 10k champion at Pan American Championships
• 2006 National Champion - 10k
• National Team member (2005-2006)
• 2005 World Champion - 10k open water swim
• 2005 U.S. National Champion - 1500m free

The U.S. Swim team trials take place from June 29th to July 6th in Omaha, Nebraska.

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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