Cullen Jones can swim as fast as necessary.

A two-time Olympic gold medalist, Jones measures his progress toward a third Olympiad in hundredths of a second. After finishing fourth in the 50-meter freestyle at last week’s Arena Pro Swim Series with a clocking of 22.30 seconds, he’s ahead of 2012’s pace. In the same meet at Mecklenburg Aquatic Club four years earlier, he swam 22.39. Last year, he finished seventh at 22.68.

“I’m not the one that wins every grand prix or always gets first, but when the time matters and I have to step up on the blocks and put USA on my back, that’s when I stand up and figure it out,” Jones said.

Jones, 32, needs to be at his peak for the U.S. Olympic trials June 26-July 3 in Omaha, Neb. He’s the most-decorated African American swimmer ever with four medals – including gold in the 4x100 freestyle relay (2008) and the 4x100 medley relay (2012). Although he didn’t win in Charlotte, the meet was a good measure of his preparation.

“It’s definitely a steppingstone,” he said. “I’ve been consistent since January with about a 22.3, but in prior years I haven’t been anywhere near that. When I look at 2012 I was at 22.8 in the morning and then 22.39 in the finals, so being 22.30 is better than in 2012, so I’m not too upset.”

Still, Jones is looking for extra speed, the burst that separates Olympians from contenders. He’s looking for the breakthrough that will secure his place on the 2016 squad.

“I’m just sick of the consistency,” he said. “I want to be faster, but that’s going to come when I go to Omaha.”

“I’ve done everything my coaches have asked and more this year and I’ve seen that in the training. Even though I’m training really hard I’m swimming fast. I’m still in the ranks. It’s not like I’m not in the ranks to be a top two or first. I just think I need the rest to put it together at the tender age of 32.”

Jones will need it to earn a spot on the powerhouse American team. Swim MAC teammates Anthony Ervin, who won the 50 meters in Charlotte, Ryan Lochte and Tyler Clary have all earned Olympic gold. There’s also Michael Phelps, who owns an Olympic record 18 gold medals in addition to younger swimmers looking to make their mark in Omaha.

“There’s always somebody gunning for your job,” Jones said. “In swimming, this is new to us, but you see it in basketball and football all the time – the veterans have to stick [to] it and figure out how to make it better. I’ve been taking care of myself better than I’ve done before. Everything else is mental.”

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