

If you need any inspiration in life, then you need to read about freestyle swimming star Cullen Jones, and then watch our video.
Jones, a 6 ‘5″native of the Bronx, NY, dropped by our Manhattan Hollywoodlife.com offices and wowed us for multiple reasons.
First, he radiates confidence and charisma and when he speaks, you understand why he has become a four time Olympic medallist — one gold in the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the 4 x 100 m freestyle, plus a gold in the 2012 Olympics for the 4 x 100 m medley, a silver in the 2012 games for the 4 x 100 m freestyle and a silver also in the 50 m freestyle. He holds a world record with the US team in the 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay in which he raced with Michael Phelps, Jason Lezak and Garrett Weber-Gale in the 2008 Olympics.
Cullen is smart, friendly,thoughtful and determined. He told us he practices at least 26 hours a week in the pool and in weight training sessions, he’s dedicated to working with the USA Swimming Foundation’s “Make a Splash” program which helps minorities learn to swim, and he’s already setting new goals for himself with an eye on the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.He plans to be there and bring back even more medals.
We all were really impressed at Hollywoodlife.com by how down to earth Cullen is. He told us he first took swimming lessons after almost drowning when he was a 5 year old, playing at a water park.
He let us hold his three new gold and silver medals — they are shockingly heavy — and he revealed to us what it’s like when you’re poised right on the starting block and then in the water during an Olympic race.
He also revealed that he was thrilled when he returned to NYC and went out to dinner at 1 Oak restaurant and Chris Brown was in the house. The singer stopped by to congratulate him and tell Cullen that he had watched his gold medal race!
Now watch our video interview, listen to Cullen’s advice for you on the importance of goal-setting and for more information on the Make a Splash initiative, go to MakeASplash.org.