When Cullen Jones nearly drowned at age 5 on a Dorney Park water ride in Pennsylvania, it changed his life forever. The event prompted Jones’ parents to sign him up for swimming lessons, a decision, he said, that not only allowed him to conquer his fear of the water but presented opportunities in competitive swimming — even the Olympics.
“I’ve had quite a few people over the years come up to me with different reasons as to why they’re afraid of the water,” Jones said. “And I completely empathize because that was me. I was afraid of the water, to try to get back into the water, let alone to actually try to swim competitively. I found the love at about 8 years old when I saw my first swim meet and looked at my mom and said, ‘This is what I want to do.’”
Jones’ swimming career holds many successes, including becoming the first Black American to hold a world swimming record after competing in the 4 x 100 freestyle during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Now 39 and living in Charlotte, North Carolina, Jones is giving back by helping children — especially Black children, who are three times more likely to drown — to learn how to swim.
Read the source article at nbcnews.com
