A swimming Olympic record

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BEIJING -- It was erased on Sunday night in the prelims of the men’s 100-meter backstroke, and no, Aaron Peirsol did not lower his own mark.

Matt Grevers, a native of Lake Forest, Ill., did it in the fourth heat, going 53.41 seconds. He had the scheduled assignment of anchoring the 400 freestyle relay later in the evening, so he couldn’t stop in the mixed zone.

But Grevers was accommodating enough to walk and talk about his Olympic record. Peirsol did it at the Olympics in 2004, going 53.45.

‘I have a feeling it’s going to be broken right now,’ Grevers said. ‘But if not, well, it was great to have it for a little bit.’

He was talking about the heat in progress, which featured Peirsol. But his mark held up and was the fastest-qualifying time for Monday’s semifinals. Peirsol was third-fastest in 53.65.

‘I think the prelims for me, it’s just about setting up for the next race,’ Peirsol said. ‘... Records can come any day.’

-- Lisa Dillman