Olympics: Gold Swimmer
He Got the Gold!
Aug 11th 2008 9:00AM by Carmen Dixon
Cullen Jones made history today as one of four men on the USA's winning 4X100 freestyle relay team.
They took the Gold with a world record time of 3 minutes, 8.24 seconds in an edge of your seat race that keeps swimmer Michael Phelps on track to bring eight medals home.
Cullen Jones might be considered a bit of an unexpected swimming superstar. You see during one of his first experiences in water, he almost drowned. But that was a long time ago.
And now as only the third black person to qualify for the Olympics in swimming, Cullen Jones has also positioned himself as an advocate and ambassador of swimming for reluctant black children.
Jones appeared on ABC's Good Morning America recently and shared these thoughts:
CAN YOU SWIM? DO YOUR KIDS KNOW HOW TO SWIM?
Aug 11th 2008 9:00AM by Carmen Dixon
Cullen Jones made history today as one of four men on the USA's winning 4X100 freestyle relay team. They took the Gold with a world record time of 3 minutes, 8.24 seconds in an edge of your seat race that keeps swimmer Michael Phelps on track to bring eight medals home.
Cullen Jones might be considered a bit of an unexpected swimming superstar. You see during one of his first experiences in water, he almost drowned. But that was a long time ago.
And now as only the third black person to qualify for the Olympics in swimming, Cullen Jones has also positioned himself as an advocate and ambassador of swimming for reluctant black children.
Jones appeared on ABC's Good Morning America recently and shared these thoughts:
"You've gotten a whole culture to believe that swimming isn't something that they do or they're not, I guess, physically capable of doing," Jones said. "We have changed that stereotype."And passing that torch has life and death implications for many children who have little access to swim instruction:
Jones has funneled his love for the sport, and helping minorities learn how to swim, into the USA Swimming Foundation's Make A Splash Program . There, he is able to turn his words to actions.
"It's just a torch that was passed on to me by many other black swimmers that have been before me -- Maritza Correia, Byron Davis. It's something that we've all tried to push and try and get more and more kids. It's definitely not a burden; it's just a cause of mine," the 6-foot-5-inch Jones said.
A 2007 study commissioned by USA Swimming and the University of Memphis found that 60 percent of African-American children don't know how to swim. And the Centers for Disease Control said African-American kids are three times more likely to drown than their Caucasian counterparts.Jones Gold Medal win is not the first for a black man. That feat was accomplished by Anthony Ervin who became the first black man to win a Gold Medal in the 50 meter freestyle in a tie with Gary Hall Jr. in 2000.
CAN YOU SWIM? DO YOUR KIDS KNOW HOW TO SWIM?
Olympics Past and Present in Photos
Olympics 2008: Stars To Watch
Allyson Felix - Track and Field
After wining a silver medal in the 200 meters at the 2004 Summer Olympics, sprinter Allyson Felix is looking for more in 2008. The five-foot-six, 125-pound sprinter is very strong for her size. Look for her to challenge in all of the sprinting events in Beijing. Felix is also a devout Christian and feels that her sprinting ability is a gift from the lord.
Demetrius Andrade - Boxing
The amateur welterweight boxer they call "Boo Boo" won the 2007 world championship. Andrade is a clear US medal favorite at 152-lbs. His coach, Robert "Herb" Martin, says, " (Andrade?)has a way of turning up the heat when he needs to. He can put pressure on you and get the win. Everything he throws is pretty much on-point. He's very sharp. He also has a good eye."
Candace Parker - Women's Basketball
Parker was just 10 years old when she watched watched Lisa Leslie win her first Olympic gold medal in Atlanta. Twelve years later, Parker got the chance to help her L.A. Sparks teammate
win an unprecedented fourth straight gold.
Freddy Adu - Soccer
Soccer-phenom Freddy Adu made history in 2004 by becoming the youngest American athlete in a century to sign a major league pro contract. In the same year, he became the youngest pro athlete to ever school a goal in MLS history. Adu was recently, named to the 18-man squad that will represent the United States in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Look for him to be a leader and fan favorite.
James Blake - Tennis
Best known for his speed and powerful forehand, James Blake has been one of the more prominent American tennis players over the past five years. He is currently ranked 8th in the world. In 2007, Blake compiled another consistent season with two ATP titles in five finals. Look for Blake to play well in the 2008 Olympics.
Lisa Leslie - Women's Basketball
Lisa Leslie is one of the only players to have dunked in a WNBA game, and she is expected to dominate the games this summer. Leslie is looking to win an unprecedented fourth straight gold.
Jeremy Wariner - Track and Field
A quick fact, Jeremy Wariner is the first caucasian man to win Olympic gold at 400 m since Viktor Markin in 1980. He won two Olympic gold medals in the 2004 games and four World Championships medals. Wariner should be carrying home more hardware in the 2008 games.
Venus Williams - Tennis
Venus is one-half of the Olympic gold-medal winning Williams sisters from Compton, Calif., have dominated womens tennis for a decade and plan to win gold again in Beijing.
Tyson Gay - Track and Field
America's 100-meters world champion Tyson Gay had a nasty fall and hamstring injury in the Olympic trials that
some thought would kill his chances at competing. Gay's 100-meter performance in Indianapolis is the second-fastest ever time into a headwind, trailing 2000 Olympic gold medalist Maurice Greene. The Kentucky-native became only the second man in history to win titles in the 100-meters, 200-meters and the 4x100-meter relay.
Serena Williams - Tennis
As the other half of the world famous Williams sisters, Serena will play through a left knee injury in the weeks before the games despite advice from a doctor-and her father-that she rest before the Olympic games.
