Cullen Jones, who turns 29 today, decides that he’ll try to make his third
U.S. Olympic team in 2016. He started training under coach David Marsh for
SwimMAC Carolina’s elite team and he is almost sure that’ll he live and train
there through at least the Olympic Games in Rio.
Although, Jones has never been a great practice athlete, Marsh always
pushes him to do more as he feels his primary competitors have been training
harder than Jones. At least, as the swimmer says, he hasn’t gained 20 pounds he
put after the 2008 Olympics.
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| Cullen Jones |
As the highest-profile African-American in U.S. swimming and a multiple
Olympic medalist, Jones remains in demand. He spoke on Tuesday to hundreds of
employees of Liberty Mutual Insurance in Charlotte’s Ballantyne area because
Liberty Mutual has just signed on as a major Olympic sponsor. He will make a
cameo on close friend Ryan Lochte’s new reality show. Jones also continues to
make appearances on behalf of what has been a very successful initiative called
“Make a Splash” that is designed to get more black children to learn how to
swim.
Certainly, he could retire. Michael Phelps has, and Jones is slightly older
than Phelps. Jones will be 32 by the time the 2016 Olympic trials take place
and determine the American team that goes to Rio. That’s no longer terribly old
in the sport of swimming, but it sure isn’t young.
Although he did consider retirement and definitely put a lot of effort on
having such great Olympics – he won two silver and one gold medal in London –
he wants to feel the same emotions and feeling fast again. Jones, meanwhile, has to try and hold the fort as that wave approaches. His
next big meet – if he qualifies for it – will be the 2013 world championships
in Barcelona in July.
“There’s a lot more in the tank for Cullen,” Marsh said. “When he gets
engaged, there’s nobody better.”
Read full article: The Observer
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