PEELER: Jones, Velez Looking Forward to 2008

BY TIM PEELER

 

RALEIGH, N.C. It was one thing to swim in the fastest Olympics in history gratifying, incredible, the moment of a lifetime. But it was just as thrilling, in some ways, for former NC State All-America swimmers Cullen Jones and Dan Velez to gather in the Murphy Center Thursday night prior to the NC State-Florida State football game

For Jones, who has become a national spokesman for swimming safety for African-American youth, coming home was a welcome respite after spending much of the last two years traveling and competing internationally. He proudly wore the gold medal he won in the 4x100-meter relay, in one of the most memorable races at the Beijing Games.

“There are faces here I haven’t seen in several years,” said Jones, who won the 2006 50-meter freestyle NCAA Championship as an NC State senior. “These are people I swam with and people I have seen in the stands that swam here before me. To be here and have them tell me they are proud of me is just overwhelming.”

For Velez, who competed for Puerto Rico in Beijing, being in such a spotlight was equally overwhelming. While he did not win a medal in the 100-meter breaststroke, the two-time All-ACC performer and 2006 All-American did set the Puerto Rican record with his time of 1:01.80, nearly two seconds better than his personal best.

Like Jones, he’s now thinking strongly about the 2012 Olympics in London.

“I actually wasn’t too sure if I would keep on swimming after Beijing,” Velez said. “I kind of thought if I dropped a little bit of time, then I might continue swimming. I ended up dropping a lot of time and surprising myself. I knew I put in a lot of work. Moments after I saw my time on the scoreboard, I said to myself I am going to keep on swimming.’”

After spending the last two years doing little other than training for the Olympics the two former Wolfpack teammates, who were recognized on the field during the first half of Thursday’s game, are now concentrating on life in the real world. And both are spending lots of quality time with kids.

Jones recently launched the Cullen Jones Diversity Tour, a nationwide effort to team African-American and Hispanic kids the importance of water safety. Ever since returning from Beijing, he has traveled the country preaching the positive aspects of swimming as an individual and team sport for segments of the population that are under-represented in the sport.

“It’s amazing to work with kids every day,” said Jones, who nearly drowned as a 5-year-old at a New York water park. “To tell them what it is like to be an Olympic swimmer and see their eyes get big. They are willing to listen to just about anything I say. It’s a pedestal I won’t abuse, but I do think it is part of my responsibility to help kids understand the importance of water safety.”

He’s addressed a congressional hearing on water safety. He’s crisscrossed the continent talking to kids. He flew in for Thursday’s game from Washington and left the next morning for Philadelphia. Being on the go isn’t as glamorous as it may sound.

“I travel way too much,” Jones said. “I hate being on airplanes now, and I used to love it. It’s a job. I’ve gotten used to air-line food, which is something I never thought would happen. It’s great to get to come home, even if it is for just one night.”

Velez has also entered the work force. He is a teacher’s assistant at Northwest High School in Germantown, Md., working with special education students. It’s the same high school where his mother and step-father work and his position allows him to keep training.

“It really is an awesome opportunity for me,” Velez said. “The whole school knows I am a swimmer and they help me go even further.”

Like Jones, Velez has enjoyed some of the spoils of his swimming success since he returned from China.

“I get like C-level celebrity status in places,” Velez said with a laugh. “If I am out with another swimmer or another friend, they have to, absolutely have to, mention Did you know this is an Olympian?’ It’s extremely embarrassing, so I am kind of like Shut up!’ But I definitely am proud of it. I am glad my friends are as excited about it as I am.”

NC State athletics director Lee Fowler, Provost Larry Nielsen, Wolfpack Club executive director Bobby Purcell and NC State swimming coach Brooks Teal all congratulated the two former athletes on their Olympic experience and recognized their accomplishments to a room full of current and former swimmers.

 

You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.

North Carolina State University Athletics

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