Velez going for more than gold

Former Wolfpack swimmer will compete for Puerto Rico next month in the Beijing Olympics

RALEIGH -- When Dan Velez dives in the pool at the Olympics next month, he'll be wearing more than a stylish swimsuit.

The former N.C. State standout also will be wearing the tattooed title of a prayer, "After Glow," on his left arm in memory of his father, Jose.

Since Jose Velez was a native of Puerto Rico, it made his son eligible to try out for that island's Olympic team -- and now he is Beijing bound.

"I want to thank my Dad,'' Velez said during a send-off celebration in front of teammates and friends Wednesday at N.C. State's University Club. "I want to do well for him, pay him back for what he has done for me."

Jose Velez died of a heart attack in 2005, when Dan was a senior at State, where he made All-ACC, set a school-record in the 200 breaststroke and graduated with honors in 2006.

The personal loss was a devastating experience for the then 21-year-old senior, who grew up in Maryland. But he soldiered on with support from coach Brooks Teal, teammates, his mother and family back in Puerto Rico.

After graduating from State with a degree in psychology, Velez, harboring graduate school aspirations, wasn't sure he would continue swimming.

But at the USA nationals in the summer of 2006, he had "breakout" performances, realized he could compete with some of the fastest swimmers and embraced more fervently the Olympic dream.

Unlike in the U.S. Olympic trials, to make the Puerto Rico squad, he had to hit an international standard time of 1:03.72 in the 100-meter breaststroke.

So at the All-American Long Course Championships in Austin, Texas, in March, Velez swam as if pursued by a shark and experienced that "One Shining Moment," kind of like the Kansas men's basketball team enjoyed in San Antonio.

Though not the type to explode with emotion, Velez' face split into a pool-wide smile when he saw the time of 1:03.63 flashing.

"That was huge; I've never been that excited in my whole life,'' he said. "There was a sense of relief."

In Beijing, Velez also will be in the company of former Wolfpack teammate Cullen Jones, who qualified in the 100-meter freestyle and 4x100 relay. Those two also will be representing N.C. State, which has now seen 12 Olympians surface from its tradition-rich swimming and diving program.

Wolfpack athletics director Lee Fowler, Teal, teammates and others generally lauded Velez as a "role model" and "ambassador" as well as saluting his swimming feats.

To prepare for the Olympics, Velez elected to train at State under the close scrutiny of Teal, whom he gave large credit for helping him make the Puerto Rican squad.

Eschewing the notion of swimming the 200 breaststroke, Velez, at the behest of Teal, started focusing more on the 100-meter race, building power and refining techniques.

"The last three or four months, he has gone the extra mile," Teal said. "He's ready to swim fast."

Velez, never afraid of hard work, is cognizant all those grueling hours in the pool paid off. Realistically, he doesn't expect to out-splash Michael Phelps but believes he has a shot at making the top 16.

"I don't want to just be a participant; I want to do well,'' said Velez, who'll swim for Puerto Rico, the Wolfpack Nation, and hope to "pay back" his Dad and family with a medal-type effort.