People, ideas, and discoveries that impact North Carolina and the world
August 2008
Cullen Jones Strikes Gold
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Cullen Jones (left) and Dan Velez represent the United States and Puerto Rico, respectively, at the Beijing Games. |
Dramatic doesn't begin to do it justice.
Former Wolfpack swimmer Cullen Jones, with teammates Michael Phelps, Garrett Weber-Gale and Jason Lezak, shocked a worldwide audience and sent the American contingent into a frenzy with a stunning upset win over heavily favored France to take Olympic gold in the 4x100 meter relay in Beijing. Undeterred by prognosticators, as well as less than flattering statements to the press from some of their competitors, the U.S. foursome posted a world-record time of 3:08.24 to bring home the top prize.
Jones (47.65) swam the third leg of the race, while Phelps (47.51) began and Weber-Gale (47.02) went second. But it was a jaw-dropping world-record performance by Lezak (46.06) in the final leg that put the United States on top.
France wound up with the silver, while Australia took bronze.
The memorable performance makes Jones just the second African-American male ever to win swimming gold for the United States.
As far as Wolfpack lore goes, Jones is the first NC State swimmer to win a gold medal since David Fox at the 1996 summer games in Atlanta. Jones is the fourth Wolfpack swimmer overall to win a gold medal at the Olympics, sixth to medal.
Jones and former teammate Dan Velez, who swam for Puerto Rico, are the 11th and 12th NC State swimmers to participate in the Olympics.
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