Irvington honors Olympic swimmer Cullen Jones
The city of Irvington celebrated Cullen Jones Day Saturday in honor of one of its favorite sons. Cullen Jones, the Olympic gold-medal winning swimmer, brought a much-needed diversion after quadruple
News 12 Staff
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Sep 22, 2008, 1:27 PM
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Updated 5,704 days ago
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The city of Irvington celebrated Cullen Jones Day Saturday in honor of one of its favorite sons.
Cullen Jones, the Olympic gold-medal winning swimmer, brought a much-needed diversion after quadruple murders rocked the city just two weeks earlier.
People who attended the event at the new Cullen Jones Aquatic Center say the celebration helped heal some of the wounds and bring inspiration to Irvington.
Jones' visit to New Jersey also kicked off a nationwide diversity tour aimed at encouraging minorities to get in the pool.
"African-Americans are three times more likely to drown," Jones says. The swimmer adds that he is now in a position to educate minorities on the importance of learning to swim.
Jones' former coach, Elliott Bradley, says that even as a child Jones had a winning attitude.
"He's so gracious about it... he receives it well," Bradley says.
