Coming from a water-loving family – including his brother, Perry, who swam in college and continues Masters swimming today; his father, Pete, who studies sea life and teaches marine biology at the University of North Carolina (UNC) and is still a recreational swimmer; and his grandfather, who captained a Naval ship during World War II – Peterson was born with water as well as blood in his veins.

Needless to say, in many ways, H2O is a part of his genetic make-up.

“I guess when you add up all the influences coupled with genetics, I was meant to be a swimmer or do something in the water,” said Peterson, a freshman distance freestyle and open water swimmer at UNC. “It’s what I grew up with, what I’ve grown to appreciate and love, and what has become an intricate part of who I am.”

It's also something he's grown to excel and succeed in. The summer before his senior year in high school, he made history by winning the men's 10-kilometer open water event at World Championships in Montreal and followed that with a win in the 1500-meter freestyle at the Conoco-Phillips National Championships a little more than two weeks later. He also finished second in the 5K at Worlds – his first major international open water competition.

He added a gold medal with a 1-2 U.S. sweep with Fran Crippen in the inaugural 10K open water race at the Mutual of Omaha Pan Pacific Championships in British Columbia this past August.

The win headlined a burgeoning open water swimming career that began when he was 12 at a mile-long event in New Jersey, where he has family.

Despite his success in the friendly confines of a 50-meter pool, when he has the choice, Peterson prefers the freedom of swimming without lanes – or restrictions.

“I just love the purity of open water – swimming against the elements and the unpredictability of it all,” said Peterson, who learned to kick and splash in the Sound as a 1-year-old with his brother and dad. “It's the absolute essence of swimming – pushing the limits of your body – with no flips or walls. I love it, although it can get a little rough with feet and arms flailing and fighting for position in choppy water and limited often limited visibility.”

Something else he's excited about ties into his training for 2007 and beyond – his reunion this year with his club coach Catherine Vogt, now an assistant at UNC.

“It's been great working with Catherine again,” Peterson said. “Last year at the club, I didn't have anyone to train with on the same level – they were mostly younger swimmers and weren't as dedicated – and it was a tough situation.

“I've already noticed a difference and improvement in my technique and endurance, and I have a renewed focus and energy in the water. It's nice to be at college with other swimmers who work hard and are here for the same reasons as me.”

For now, with his collegiate career in full kick and his training back on schedule, Peterson's focus is on the future.

The 2008 Beijing Games mark the first year 10K open water swimming is an Olympic medal event, and Peterson couldn't be more pumped about it.

He's also excited about the increased interest open water swimming continues to gain.

“Things are working out perfectly. It's a good time for open water swimming,” Peterson said. “It's good to see open water getting the attention it deserves. Beijing should be a blast.”