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. . .

You have no idea how hard it is to name this post! I’ve gone through so many names. There was the 5 best, blah, blah, blah. Then there was the most hype clubs. Or should it be most hyped? The Black Swim Clubs with the Most Buzz? Idk. It’s been a trip. But finding out about these swim clubs was cool. It let me know that I’m not alone in the world being black and liking swimming. There are some folks that liked it so much, they started swim clubs. Swim clubs are important if you or your child are to be competitive in swimming. The clubs give you company while you’re working hard to be the best. They give you experience in racing, winning and losing. If you find a black swim club, you have found a rare gem. Here are the 6 most popular black swim clubs:

1. The legendary: The Nile is not just a really long river; it’s also the oldest black swim club in America. Started in 1958, it just had a 50 year family reunion. This club is in Yeadon, Pennsylvania

2. The famous: Jim Ellis’s club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the PDR (Philadelphia Department of Recreation) club, featured in the movie Pride.

3. The Productive: Washington DC (Department of Parks and Recreation) DPR: Hosts national black history month swim meet in February.

4. The Up and Coming: Queen City Dolphins: Charlotte North Carolina. Its coaches were college swimmers, Rodney Sellers, and Marcus Green. They host (a/the) National Black Heritage Championship Swim Meet.

5. The humble: Greenview Dolphins swim club: Columbia South Carolina

6. The Afro-Centric: Black Star Line All-Star Swim Team: Oakland California

Bonus: for all you triathletes and wannabe triathletes: Tri-Masters—not strictly swimming, but triathlon support: Chicago Illinois. I might have to go check them out. I have dreamed of competing in a triathlon for years. . .