Four US Swimming Team Olympians have come to Philadelphia for their Make A Splash Tour, which started on May 8th. On May 9th, I attended a Make a Splash event and had an opportunity to gain insight on their trip to Philadelphia and how they look to make an impact here. Four-time medalist Cullen Jones (including Gold medals in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics), three-time medalist Rowdy Gaines (all from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics), and two time Elizabeth Biesel (won Silver and Bronze in the 2012 London Olympics) all shared the same excitement about their trip here.
When asked about his admiration for Philadelphia, three-time medalist Rowdy Gaines started by saying, “I love Philadelphia. When you think of Philadelphia sports, you think of their fanbase. They really love their sports here. There’s a lot of history here, going back centuries. The people have always treated me great.” Gaines was ecstatic about this trip, given that it’s been a few years since he’s been here.
Four-time medalist Cullen Jones responded, “I was born in New York and grew up in New Jersey. Coming over to Philly was something that we did quite regularly, so it kind of feels like I’m at home. I definitely come for the cheesesteak. As Rowdy said, the fans are unbelievable. We were able to go to the Sixers game (Game 4), and the fans’ energy was amazing.”
On the impact that the Make A Splash Tour will hopefully make on the youth of Philadelphia, Jones stated: “Rowdy and I started ‘Make a Splash’ in 2009, so to be in Philly, personally for me, (it) feels like home.
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