Who is better, Peirsol or Coughlin?
Natalie Coughlin leads with a GOAT score of 89.4 against 89.2 for Aaron Peirsol — a gap of 0.2 points on GOAT Rank's weighted model.
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Peirsol vs Coughlin
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Quick answer
GOAT Rank currently ranks Natalie Coughlin above Aaron Peirsol: 89.4 vs 89.2. Natalie Coughlin leads on Longevity. Aaron Peirsol leads on Dominance, Peak.
How the GOAT Score is calculated →GOAT verdictgoatrank.world
CoughlinWinner
89.4Coughlin wins: Longevity
Peirsol
89.2Peirsol wins: Dominance, Peak
Candidates
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Time range
Showing full careers. Pick a window to recalculate the selected period.
Category radar
Verdict
Weighted GOAT score
🇺🇸 Natalie Coughlin
89.4
Coughlin leads in 3 of 5 weighted categories.
1. Natalie Coughlin
2. Aaron Peirsol
Category breakdown
Season form · Form index per season
Career timeline · Form index per season
Cumulative output season by season — the shape of each career against the other.
GOAT pace tracker
Career stage · GOAT pace
Through season 5 · Form index per season1. 🇺🇸 Aaron Peirsol5 seasons played · career day 2,191569.9 major golds
Setting the pace at this stage
2. 🇺🇸 Natalie Coughlin5 seasons played · career day 2,921298.1 major golds
-47.7% vs Peirsol at the same stage
| Ghost race · career day | 30 | 100 | 365 | 1000 | 1825 | 3650 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 Peirsol | 0 | 0 | 0 | 115 | 457.04 | 906.65 |
| 🇺🇸 Coughlin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 119.43 | 357.12 |
Careers are aligned from debut; the first 5 season periods are measured against the same career window.
Fan vote — data vs the people
GOAT Rank · the data
Coughlin89.4
Peirsol89.2
FAQ
Where does Peirsol beat Coughlin?
Peirsol scores higher on peak, dominance. Coughlin leads on longevity.
How is the Peirsol vs Coughlin score calculated?
Both are scored on peak, dominance, honours, statistics, longevity within their sport. Peirsol: 89.2, Coughlin: 89.4.
What do you think?
0 commentsMake your case for Peirsol vs Coughlin. The scoring is published in full — if you can point at the pillar or the weight you disagree with, we read it. Read the methodology paper.