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Cullen Jones Birthday and Biography

 

Born:  February 29, 1984

Birthplace:  The Bronx, NY

Zodiac Sign:  Pisces

Cullen Andrew Jones is an American competition swimmer and Olympic gold medalist specializing in freestyle sprint events.

As part of the American team, he holds the world record in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay (long course).

At the 2012 Summer Olympics, he won silver medals in the 4 x 100-meter freestyle relay, the 50-meter freestyle, and the gold in the 4 x 100-meter medley.

He learned to swim after being rescued from a near-drowning at a splash-down pool at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Pennsylvania when he was five.

He became an age-group swimmer at Metro Express, a club team at the Jewish Community Center in West Orange, New Jersey.

Jones later switched teams to the Jersey Gators Swim Club in Cranford.

In 2002, he graduated from Saint Benedict's Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey.

Jones attended North Carolina State University, where he studied English and swam for the NC State Wolfpack swimming and diving team in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) competition from 2003 to 2006.

In 2006, he turned professional in the summer after signing with Nike.

Shortly after, he entered the 2006 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships scene. Here he set a meet record in the 50-meter freestyle with a time of 21.84 seconds.

He also swam a leg (split of 47.96) in the world record-breaking 4×100-meter freestyle relay along with Michael Phelps, Neil Walker, and Jason Lezak.

In 2007, he also won a gold medal in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay with the same teammates in the 2007 World Aquatics Championships.

At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, he won a gold medal in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay in a world record time of 3:08.24 with Michael Phelps, Jason Lezak, and Garrett Weber-Gale.

In July 2009, Jones set the American record in the 50-meter freestyle at the U.S. National Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana.

At the 2012 United States Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska, the qualifying meets for the 2012 Olympics.

Jones made the Olympic team for the second time by finishing first in the 50-meter freestyle and second in the 100-meter freestyle.

He later qualified for the 4×100-meter freestyle relay.

In the 50-meter freestyle final, Jones won with a time of 21.59, one one-hundredth (0.01) of a second ahead of second-place finisher Anthony Ervin (21.60).

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