Lolo Jones, three-time Olympian, fails to make Rio Games
Lolo Jones has scratched out of qualifying for the Rio Olympics, possibly bringing to a close one of the more fascinating and frustrating careers in recent Olympic history.
Jones will not compete in the 100 meter hurdles in the U.S. Olympic trials in Eugene, Ore., the only event in which she had sought to make the U.S. Olympic team. However, Jones had not competed since February.
The story of Jones, a three-time NCAA champion at LSU, is one of missed opportunities and unfortunate errors. In 2008, Jones was leading the 100 meter hurdles when she tripped on the final hurdle and finished seventh. Four years later in London, Jones finished fourth, one-tenth of a second off the medal podium. She will turn 34 this summer, and has almost surely missed out on her final opportunity to win a medal in the Summer Games.
There is another opportunity out there, however. Jones is one of 10 American athletes to compete in both the Summer and Winter Games. She placed 11th as part of the U.S. women’s bobsled team in Sochi in 2014.
Jones drew plenty of attention during her Olympic career, and plenty of blowback for that same attention. A New York Times article published shortly before the London Games called Jones’ attention-grabbing ploys “sad and cynical,” adding that Jones “decided she will be whatever she wants to be – vixen, virgin, victim – to draw attention to herself and the many products she endorses … If there is a box to check off, Jones has checked it. Except for the small part of actually achieving success as an Olympic hurdler.” Jones also faced criticism from the bobsledders she beat out for the final spot on the Sochi team.
If this is indeed the end of Jones’ Olympic career, her story will be one of failed promise. But Jones will almost certainly find her way back to the spotlight one way or another.
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Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports and the author of EARNHARDT NATION, on sale now at Amazon or wherever books are sold. Contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter or on Facebook.
