Last night, I saw what I was waiting for in the Olympics. I don’t have to harass my family with endless hours of footage, hoping to glimpse Cullen Jones. I missed him set the world record at the prelims, swimming with three others who ultimately didn’t swim in the finals.

But I watched him as part of the world record breaking 4 x 100 US men’s team.

Swimming superstar Michael Phelps had his hopes hung on this race. The gold medal in this race would be his second in his quest for eight medals. He swam the lead off leg of the relay, clocking in below the world record, and still coming in second behind the French, the favored team. Garret Weber-Gale, in his first Olympics, took the lead from the French, giving Cullen Jones a good lead off. Cullen swam fast and hard, but lost the lead again to the French. Jason Lezak, swimming the anchor leg for the second time of his Olympic career, had an axe to grind. He had been on the team in 2000 when the Americans won the silver medal. He’d also been part of 2004′s bronze medal team. It was time for gold.

He said, “people do extraordinary things in the Olympics.” Indeed. He was in second place all the way to the 20 meter mark. He out-touched the stunned French swimmer by .08 seconds–the shortest margin of victory in Olympic history.

My husband and I were jumping up and down and yelling, like everyone in the stands, and especially Michael Phelps and Garret Weber-Gale. Where was Cullen Jones? He is quoted as saying he was shouting things that were not suitable for TV, as was Weber-Gale. But Jones was off-screen during the exciting final seconds of the race.

We were disappointed that he lost the American team’s lead, and made for a really tough leg for Lezak. But he won a gold medal. He was part of that history making team. I hope he continues. He’s a good 8 years younger than Lezak, and about 16 years younger than Dana Torres. Swimming is a good sport for longevity. I hope to hear of bigger and better things from Cullen Jones in the future.

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming. . .