Chip Peterson

Charles (“Chip”) Bowne Peterson (born December 3, 1987 in Morehead City, North Carolina) is an American swimmer who specializes is long-distance freestyle swimming, especially open water swimming, in which he is a world champion.

Career

At the 2005 World Aquatics Championships, Peterson won gold in the 10 km event and a silver medal position behind Germany's Thomas Lurz in the 5 km event. Peterson was jointly awarded the inaugural Open Water Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World magazine with Lurz. Peterson also earned a gold medal in the 1500 meter freestyle at the 2005 Summer Nationals in Irvine, California. Peterson won gold in the men's 1500 meter freestyle as well as a silver in the men's 10K open water swim at the 2007 Pan American Games held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At the 2010 ACC Swimming and Diving Championships Peterson won the 1650yd freestyle in a time of 14:49.36, fourth in the 500 yard freestyle with a time of 4:20.23. At the 2010 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships Peterson competed in the 1650, 500, and 200 yard freestyles placing 13th in the 1650 free and 14th in the 500 free.

Personal

Peterson now swims for the University of North Carolina, and after his freshman year owned the top time for the tar heels in three events, the 500yd free, the 1000yd free, and the 1650yd free. At the ACC championships, Peterson placed second in the 1650yd free and fifth in the 500yd free. He was the subject of a feature story that ran in The Daily Tar Heel during the year.

Peterson's father, Pete, is a professor of Marine Sciences at UNC. On April 13, 2010 Peterson was named the 2010 ACC Men's Swimming & Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

External links

• Chip Peterson's bio on UNC's website
• North Carolina's Chip Peterson Named 2010 ACC Men's Swimming & Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year