Swimmer Cullen Jones Snags Silver in 50-Meter

By: Hillary Crosley | Posted: August 4, 2012 at 12:32 PM

Cullen Jones (Al Bello/Getty Images)

North Carolina native Cullen Jones was sure he'd won the 50-meter freestyle competition on Friday but realized when he rose from the water that he'd garnered second place. Still, according to Charlotte news station WCNC, the silver is his first individual medal and will offer plenty of inspiration for next time.

"I thought I was in the lead," Jones said. "I really did. I thought I had it. And when I hit the wall I was like, 'Ooooh!! Oh ... no.' "

There wasn't a "1" next to his name. There was a "2." Jones had beaten his biggest rivals but had still finished second to earn silver, his first individual medal.

All of the big guns had been upset by an unheralded Frenchman named Florent Manadou, who sped to a startling gold medal from an outside lane ...

"I gave 100 percent, so I'm happy," Jones said. "The time wasn't too bad and I'm thankful that I got second. I was dreaming of gold and I really wanted to get first, but it wasn't in the cards this time. I'll have to work with silver. And that's enough motivation for another four years, I think."

Read more at WCNC.

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