North Carolina State University Athletics
Olympic Gold! Jones, USA Wins 4x100 Relay
8/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | Swimming
BEIJING - 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 on Monday, Aug. 11.
Undeterred by prognosticators, as well as less than flattering statements to the press from some of its 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 to ever win swimming gold for the U.S.
As far as Wolfpack lore goes, Jones is the first NC State swimmer to win a gold medal since David Fox at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Jones is the fourth Wolfpack swimmer overall to win a gold medal at the Olympics and the sixth to bring home a 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.
