Olympic Gold Medalist Helps Restore Chicago Pool

The Olympic champion who once needed to be resuscitated at an amusement park is now making sure South Chicago kids never face the same danger. Cullen Jones, who won gold alongside Michael Phelps in the 2012 London Games, is spearheading a campaign to restore a century-old pool in the city's Southeast Side.

Jones was just five years old when he went underwater at a water park, surrounded by lifeguards and his parents. "Water goes in. You can't speak," he remembers about how quickly drowning happens. His parents enrolled him in swim lessons immediately, and that decision changed everything.

He went on to swim at North Carolina State and turned pro in 2006. In 2008, he became the first African American to hold a world record in swimming. Four years later, he stood on the Olympic podium with a gold medal.

Now Jones is bringing his story back to Chicago's 91st Street, where an old YMCA pool sits empty inside what's now the South Chicago SALUD Center. The building offers social services and senior housing, but the pool has fallen into disrepair. Jones and partners including P33, a tech innovation nonprofit, are raising funds to bring it back to life.

The timing matters deeply. Last summer, multiple drownings happened in the area simply because people didn't know how to swim. The neighborhood sits along the lakefront, yet year-round access to an indoor pool remains out of reach for most families.

Why This Inspires

Black and brown children face significantly higher drowning rates than their peers. Jones knows this statistic isn't just a number but represents real kids in real danger. His presence in South Chicago sends a powerful message: the same water that nearly took his life became his path to Olympic glory.

April Morris, a program manager at the SALUD Center, sees the restored pool as more than just a place to cool off. "It would be so wonderful for us to give kids something safe to go to and enjoy while learning a critical life skill," she says.

The Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park is under construction nearby, bringing jobs and investment to the neighborhood. The pool restoration represents the community investment piece, ensuring current residents benefit from the area's growth.

Jones continues to work with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee as an ambassador for water safety. His message remains simple: if a kid who nearly drowned can become an Olympic champion, every child deserves the chance to learn.

The fundraiser happens Monday, giving the community a chance to turn an empty pool into a beacon of safety and opportunity.