Chip Peterson

Position:
Distance Freestyle, Individual Medley
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Pine Knolls Shore, N.C.
High School:
West Carteret

Career Best Times: 1:39.28 in the 200-yard freestyle; 4:18.18 in the 500-yard freestyle (School Record); 8:58.21 in the 1000-yard freestyle (2nd in school history); 14:48.86 in the 1650-yard freestyle (2nd in school history); 3:51.36 in the 400-yard individual medley (4th in school history).

General: One of the collegiate ranks' premier distance swimmers...ranks No. 1 on UNC's preseason depth chart in the 500 free at 4:18.18, the school record in the event...came in as one of the nation's top recruits his freshman season in 2006-07 and did not disappoint with his first-year efforts...took a redshirt year in 2007-08 to concentrate on training for international open water events...came back strong with an outstanding 2008-09 season...set school records in the 1000 and 1650 freestyles as a freshman and now ranks second in school history in both events...ranks as one of the world's premier open water swimmers.

Long Course Highlights: Qualified for the 2008 Olympic Trials in the 200, 400 and 1500-meter freestyles and the 400-meter IM...placed 12th in the 1500-meter free at the Trials...later that summer he came back to finish fourth in the same event at the 2008 U.S. Open with a time of 15:21.12...set a career best with a time of 4:31.34 in the 400-meter IM at the 2008 U.S. Open...holds a trio of school long course...he went 3:52.74 in the 400-meter freestyle at the 2007 U.S. Swimming Championships, 8:02.59 in the 800-meter freestyle at the 2007 Santa Clara Grand Prix and 15:12.33 in the 1500-meter freestyle at the 2007 Pan American Games to set those standards...at the 2007 Pan American Games in Brazil he captured the gold medal in the 1500-meter freestyle... had an outstanding 2007 summer U.S. Nationals, copping third place in the 1500 meters and 13th in the 400 meters... won the 800-meter freestyle at the 2006 Pan Pacific Championships...was the 2005 U.S. national champion in the 1500-meter free.

Open Water Highlights: Placed 13th in the 2008 World Open Water Swimming Championships where his time was a scant 2.2 seconds from qualifying for the 2008 Olympics...finished second in the 10k 2007 U.S. Open Water World Championships Trials...at the 2007 Pan American Games in Brazil he earned the silver medal in 10k open water swimming...at the 2007 U.S. Open Water National Championships he captured first place in both the 5k and 10k races... at the 2006 World Open Water Championships he finished second in the 5k and sixth in the 10k...won the 10k open water event at the 2006 Pan Pacific Championships...won the 5k and 10k open water swims at the 2006 U.S. Nationals...2005 U.S. champion and world champion in the 10k open water swimming events... was named the 2005 co-U.S. Swimming Open Water Performer of the Year...U.S. National Team member in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008...member of U.S. Junior National Team in 2004.

2008-09 (Sophomore): Swam the 500 freestyle, 400 IM and 1650 freestyle at the 2009 Championships...finished 10th in the 1650-yard freestyle with a time of 14:49.78, earning honorable mention All-America honors...was 20th in the 500-yard freestyle in a school record time of 4:18.18...at the 2009 ACC Championships, he placed sixth in the 500-yard freestyle, 11th in the 400-yard individual medley and sixth in the 1650-yard freestyle...swam the fastest split (1:34.74) on the Tar Heels' 800-yard freestyle relay which set a school record at ACCs...named to the 2008-09 ACC Academic Honor Roll...was named to the Dean's List in both semesters of the 2008-09 school year...won the Bruce Webster Award as the squad's most dedicated swimmer...tapped for the ACC All-Academic Swimming Team...2009 ESPN The Magazine Third-Team At-Large Academic All-America selection after being named to the ESPN The Magazine District Three All-Academic Team...selected for the CSCAA Scholar-Athlete Team.

2007-08: Redshirted during the season to concentrate on open water swimming while training for various international competitions...named to 2007-08 ACC Academic Honor Roll...earned mention on the fall 2007 Dean's List.

2006-07 (Freshman): Competed at the NCAA Championships in three events...his career best time in the 500 free in the NCAA prelims was good for third place on the Tar Heels' all-time depth chart...he finished 14th overall in the event...he took sixth place in the NCAA meet in the 1650-yard freestyle, achieving a career best clocking and smashing the school record previously held by Yuri Suguiyama...his 1000-yard split in the race also broke the school record for that distance...swam three NCAA consideration qualifying times at the ACC Championships in the 500 free, 1650 free and as a member of the 800 freestyle relay... helped that relay place third in the league meet...finished fifth in the 500 freestyle, 11th in the 400-yard individual medley and second in the 1650-yard freestyle at ACCs...honored as a first-team All-ACC selection...also named a 2007 first-team All-America in the 1650-yard free and an honorable mention All-America in the 500-yard free...won the Jamerson Award as the team's Most Outstanding Swimmer...named to the 2006-07 ACC Academic Honor Roll...named to the UNC Dean's List in both semesters of the 2006-07 school year...tapped for the ACC All-Academic Swimming Team.

Prep: Graduated from West Carteret High School in 2006...a distance freestyler, he swam in high school for four years and also competed in club swimming for 13 years...salutatorian of high school class...a National Merit Scholar.

Personal: Given name is Charles Bowne Peterson...son of Nancy and Pete Peterson...was born December 3, 1987 in Morehead City, N.C. ...has one brother, Perry, 24.

Chatting Up The Chipster
Academic Major at Carolina: Biology
Career Plans: Undetermined
Hobbies: Surfing
Athlete I Most Admire: Michael Jordan
Biggest Sports Thrill: Winning the world open water swimming championship
Person Who Has Had The Greatest Influence on My Athletic Career: Catherine Vogt
Favorite Book: Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson
Favorite Magazine: Newsweek
Favorite Food: Peanut Butter
Favorite Movie: The Nightmare Before Christmas
Favorite TV Show: The Blue Planet
Favorite Website to Visit: Pure Volume
City I've Never Been To But Want To Visit: Sydney, Australia
Entertainment Figure I'd Most Like To Have Dinner With: Keira Knightley