4 Non-Swimming Facts About First-Time Olympian Blake Pieroni

Photo Courtesy: Andy Ringgold / Aringo Photos

Editorial Coverage Sponsored By FINIS

By Jake Renie, Swimming World College Intern

As we are now in single-digits-days away from the Olympics, we see top athletes across America compete for a shot at the Olympic gold medal. One of the new kids on the block is the male swimmer from Indiana University, Blake Pieroni.

Pieroni qualified for the 2016 Olympics in the 4×100 free relay, posting a time of 48.78 in his individual 100 freestyle! Here are four things that I found out about Blake Pieroni that you might enjoy…

1. Blake (when I received this info) is level 22 in Pokemon GO!

Apr 16, 2015; Mesa, AZ, USA; Michael Phelps looks at his iPhone as he receives a massage before the Men's 100 meter butterfly final during the 2015 Arena Pro Swim Series at the Skyline Aquatic Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher/Arizona Republic via USA TODAY Sports

Photo Courtesy: Arizona Republic-USA TODAY Sport

If you’re not playing the new hit game for your phone, you’re truly missing out. What better way to spend your time adventuring during roadtrips for big swim meets than playing Pokemon GO? Knowing how addicting the game is (because I play the game also), I wouldn’t be surprised if he was a few levels up by now!

2. He cheers for the Green and Gold in the NFL.

110603-N-AD372-308 PANAMA CITY, Fla. (June 3, 2011) Students at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center play underwater football to cool down after physical training. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Abraham Essenmacher/Released)

Photo Courtesy: Abraham Essenmacher

Just as many other Americans, Pieroni is an avid football fan, actually “a diehard Green Bay Packers fan!” is how one former teammate describes him. Pieroni decided to ignore the hype of Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts, but to look in awe at the back-to-back legendary quarterback eras of Brett Farve and Aaron Rodgers. Not a bad team to root for!

3. Pieroni loves riding on two wheels.

blake-pieroni-2015-texas-florida-indiana

Photo Courtesy: Andy Ringgold/Aringo

Starting at a young age, Blake describes participating in hare scrambles. A hare scramble is a form of motorcycle-racing that is off-road, doing laps around a course filled with sharp turns and steep hills. Growing up and soon learning to drive a car, he soon began riding motorcycles and it quickly became one of his favorite pastimes. There’s something about the wind against your face that brings about the adrenaline every blue-chip athlete can enjoy.

4. Blake was a multi-sport athlete in high school.

Photo Courtesy: Andy Ringgold/Aringo Photos

Being a now-Olympic athlete, many would agree that Blake probably swam on his high school team. What many wouldn’t believe though, is that Blake was also on a paintball team! Being an adrenaline junkie already with his hobby of motorcycling, paintballing was another thrill that got Pieroni’s blood pumping!

So along with the aquatic stats which accompany the Olympics, it’s nice to know some things about your new Olympic swimmers that don’t pertain to swimming. Special thank you to all the friends, teammates, and coaches who responded to my emails and helped the world get better acquainted with Olympic rookie Blake Pieroni!

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