World Record Swimmer

This passage is about the first African American swimmer to break a record for the United States.

Lexile Level: 650L

Categories: People & Places Sports & Health

Cullen Jones was the first African American swimmer to break a world record for the United States. He was part of a four-man relay team at the Pan Pacific Championships. The team set a new world record in their event. Jones is a sprinter. Mostly, he swims the short races. His parents inspired him. His father died of cancer when Jones was sixteen years old. His father really wanted Jones to play basketball. However, a true resolve to swim on Cullen Jones' part won over his father. His mother and his father were his biggest fans. Jones attended North Carolina State University and swam for their team. He graduated from the university. Jones is preparing for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. With his hard work, he may well have many medals ahead of him.