The world is full of dreamers. Unfortunately, not all of us can fulfill our dreams. But this particular Olympics swimming champion is helping those who can’t help themselves, achieve their dreams. After becoming the first African-American swimmer to hold a world record, Cullen Jones is now involved in making the lives of the children of his community better.

While life brought many good things for Jones after he grew up, an unfortunate incident that took place when he was 5 changed his life forever. It is a lesson learned from that adversity that has made him the noble and accomplished swimmer that he is. And now, he is ensuring that the little ones that have come after him never have to face the same challenges again.

The Olympics champion turned benefactor

A recent report by the USA Swimming Foundation revealed that 64% of the children belonging to the African-American community do not have the ability to swim. Another study conducted by CDC clarified that African-American children between the ages of 5 to 19 years old were five times more likely to drown in a swimming pool compared to their Caucasian counterparts. But how does this relate to the four-time Olympic champion who trained and participated with legends such as Michael Phelps?

When Cullen Jones was merely 5 years old, he almost drowned in a water park. He might have gone on to become one of the most influential swimmers in the country, but going through the harrowing accident changed his outlook on life. Thinking back to his childhood, Jones said, “I had humble beginnings before I got into swimming. It wasn’t always these gold medals.” After he achieved his dreams, Cullen Jones decided to use his platform to help the children of the country to learn how to swim in an attempt to save them from his fate. According to WAFB, to give effect to this goal, he has paired with Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge (BREC), to give out free lessons to children across the nation, especially children of minority.

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Jones joined swimmers at City-Brooks Pool and taught free lessons to dozens of kids. BREC Superintendent Corey Wilson said, “We just want to remove as many barriers as possible to provide kids with access to learn how to swim because it is literally a lifesaver.” Jones revealed his motivation behind the initiative, and added, “When I see a kid go in the pool for the first time, going under water, taking their first strokes, floating for the first time, it reinvigorates why I do this.” This association with BREC is merely a fruit of Jones’ passion that resulted from a terrible occurrence.

The incident that changed Cullen Jones’ life

It took place at Dorney Park in Pennsylvania. Little Jones went on a water ride and almost drowned as a result. His parents, worried for their child’s safety, signed him up for swimming lessons. That’s when everything changed for him. According to him, it was an opportunity that made him a professional swimmer, and even took him to the Olympics. Jones said, “I was afraid of the water, to try to get back into the water, let alone to actually try to swim competitively.”

After taking swimming lessons, Jones became a lifeguard in New Jersey when he was 15, and he saved at least 10 people from drowning, according to a report by NBC News. After making it huge at the Games, Cullen Jones also tours with USA Swimming Foundation’s Make a Splash Tour, to educate the parents and children of the country about the importance of swimming. Others might wait for the world to change itself, but it is clear that Cullen Jones is not that person. He is committed to changing the world himself.

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