Lolo Jones catches us up on what she's been up to during her brief but well-deserved holiday.
Hi again,
Refreshed after an end-of-season break it seems a long time since by last IAAF diary piece. I’ve been away for a short break to Jamaica and then to Las Vegas but my main vacation was in Brazil. We stayed on the island on Florianopolis and it was very laid back and a good place to surf. I’d never been to Brazil before and it was just what I needed, a totally relaxing holiday, after the constant flow of media demands since Beijing.
I returned to training about a week ago and, surprisingly, it has so far gone better than expected. Normally when in my off-season I’m on the couch eating junk food and watching TV for a month, but because it was Olympic year I’ve never stopped. I actually took a month and a half off which was more than usual, but I think because I was rushing around with speaking and media engagements I managed to keep the weight off and started training again having lost some weight!
I feel invigorated for the next year and I’m really looking forward to the World Championships in Berlin. Germany is one of my favourite places to run because their crowds are pretty wild and so knowledgeable about athletics.
I’ve also managed to pick up a couple of sponsors since the Olympic Games and I’m featured in a commercial for a mattress company. They have used my name to sell Low Low prices - instead of Lolo - and the commercial is going to be shown in the southern states, which I’m pretty excited about. They have also given me a beautiful mattress, which is supposed to put the air back into your body. It is worth around $10,000 and is the most expensive mattress I’ve ever had!
I’m also going to Japan in December where my sponsors, Asics, are going to mould me a specific custom made pair of Lolo shoes. I’m so excited by the project because I have really high arches and my feet are so slender and narrow people call by feet skis. The colour? Well, I don’t know yet but Asics switch up their colours from hot pink to gold, so we’ll just have to see.
As for now it is back to the hard slog of training and back out for the indoor season. I hope to start competing again in early February, although I’m undecided about whether to do the US indoor circuit for the first time or the European indoor circuit, which I love.
Lolo
Source: IAAF
Back from a disappointing finish at the Beijing Olympics LoLo Jones keeps her champion spirit alive by spending time with kids at the House of Mercy in Des Moines.
The World Indoor 60m hurdles champion, who shot to worldwide fame when she tripped on a hurdle whilst leading the Olympic final in Beijing, tells spikesmag.com about the tough disjointed upbringing that formed the basis of her success as an elite athlete.
“My mum was pretty broke all the time and moved around from job to job while my dad was in and out of prison. My mum had five kids to look after and would take a temporary job and we often could not afford to pay the rent. We moved around so much I lived in eight houses in eight years.
“My mum always made sure we had food in our bellies. She had a part college education, so took secretarial jobs but they were often temporary jobs
“My dad may have been in and out of jail but he was a very good father when he was around. We would see him one year and then he would not be around for three. As a kid you don’t know that’s not regular. We would visit him to jail but often never know the reason why he was in.
“For a spell we were homeless and so lived in the basement of a church. When day camps were offered at church I woke up early to avoid being teased be the other kids in case they found out I was living in a basement.
“I was always very independent, a real bookworm but I was always involved in sport. I started off playing basketball and started my athletics life in sixth grade as a long distance runner.
“At High School I was always very academic and I had the chance of an academic scholarship in science but it conflicted with my athletics. If you asked me to choose between a science competition and a track meeting, I would always run at the track meet. I saw track as the way I could get an education and a free scholarship.
“I’m very close to my sister and all my siblings were pretty athletic they just had other distractions and could not keep their focus at school.
“I played the violin and cello but often could not keep practicing because of my other interests. I still play now but just for recreation.
“My mum wanted to move to Forest City in Iowa but I would not leave my High School because Forest City did not have a track. I lived with four families in four years to pursue my track and field career and my mum was totally supportive.
“It was hard living with different families. I had to become accustomed to their rules and sometimes it could be very strained, particularly as I was a teenager at the time.
“My mum is also called Lori like me, I get called Lolo to avoid any confusion. She is very proud of me but I’m sure she would be proud of me whatever I would have done in my life.
"Athletics has saved my life in three ways. First it has got me out of poverty. Second it has got me a free education, and third it has become one of the joys of my life. Even when I'm working out and being sick I enjoy it. I love pushing my body to the limits of what it's capable of."
Source: Spikes Magazine
By Pat Shaver
About 250 middle school students representing 46 schools attended the Super-Power Summit at the Polk County Convention Complex on Wednesday, an all-day event aimed at teaching them how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
And guess who had them jumping and stretching?
"You only get one body to live your life in, and you have to get out and be active," said Olympic athlete Lolo Jones, keynote speaker of the event.
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Before she spoke, Jones taught the kids a few different exercises.
"I run track, and I'm a little tired," she said after the exercises.
Jones compared the body to a race car. Drivers, she said, fill up their cars with premium gas and don't leave the car in the garage until the day of the race.
Each school had two to nine students at the event.
Carrie Scheidel, a member of Iowa Partners: Action for Healthy Kids, which helped plan and fund the event, said the goal was for the students to take what they learned back to their peers.
"Middle school kids have a lot of pressures. Nutrition and physical activity can really help them shine," Scheidel said.
Each school that attended is eligible to apply for a grant for up to $1,500. Scheidel said the students will meet with a teacher and come up with a wellness plan for their school and then apply for the grant.
The hope is for the students to create small changes that they can keep going over the school year, Scheidel said. The grants are funded by the Midwest Dairy Council, Iowa Partners: Action for Healthy Kids and the Iowa Department of Education.
Jayde Murray, 13, from Goodrell Middle School, said she is going to try to get her friends and family to exercise more, and avoid fast food.
"I was excited to hear about what else you could do to exercise, and you can get more energetic from eating fruits and vegetables," Murray said.
Nicole Gibson, 13, and Colby Knight, 14, from Urbandale Middle School, hope to influence their peers to get outside and eat healthy.
"If you give up a short-term pleasure for long-term gain, it can help you be a better athlete," Gibson said.
Jones said her favorite foods were chicken wings, baby carrots and cottage cheese. Her hero is her assistant Kim, who used to run track and has always been an inspiration.
"Just because you're from Iowa doesn't mean you can't be a superstar at the national level," Jones said. "That never deterred me from my dreams. I never gave up."
Source: The Des Moines Register
By Pat Curtis
Olympian Lolo Jones talks with kids in Des Moines.Olympic hurdler Lolo Jones, who grew up in Des Moines, made her first public appearances in Iowa Wednesday since her agonizing exit from the summer games.
Jones paid a visit to a Des Moines inner-city shelter for women and children. She posed for pictures, handed out plastic gold medals to the kids and even participated in a sack race...which she won.
"Yeah, ya know, I finally pulled off a victory, so I'm excited about that," Jones joked after crossing the finish line. "Can I please have my medal?" In Beijing this summer, Jones had a commanding lead in the finals of the 100-meter hurdles, before she clipped one of the last hurdles and stumbled to a 7th place finish.
It was a painful moment, but Jones says it's made her a stronger person. The mistake likely cost Jones from landing millions of dollars worth of endorsements. "(Winning the Olympics) would have been life-changing for me, but instead of life-changing in bank deposits, it's life-changing in character lessons. I'll take that," Jones said. The 26-year-old Jones is planning another Olympic run in 2012.
Lolo Jones competes in sack race."Hurdlers normally peak between the ages of 28 to 33. I'll turn 30 that summer, so I'll be in my prime," Jones said. A public ceremony to honor Jones is scheduled for Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Jordan Creek Town Center in West Des Moines.
Listen to a short interview here.
Source: Radio Iowa
Taken at a kid charity event in Des Moines on October 8, 2008
'As far as all of us are concerned, she's a winner,' fan says
A gold medal may have eluded Lolo Jones in Beijing, but she garnered a golden moment in her homecoming to Des Moines on Friday.
An overflow crowd of about 400 people came out to the Jordan Creek Amphitheater in West Des Moines to welcome the Olympic hurdler home. After a brief ceremony, she went inside to sign autographs for a line of people that stretched at least 200 feet long.
It seemed like all 400 people had a Lolo story to tell. Janet Bannister of Des Moines remembered Jones from 10 years ago. Bannister's son, Chris, and Jones both were track runners at Roosevelt High School, and Jones had dinner at the Bannisters' home once.
"She was the first and only girl my son brought home for dinner," Bannister said. "She was just very beautiful, a warm, friendly person, and shy. Very polite. A great sense of humor."
Bannister said she admired Jones.
"I just love this woman. She didn't have an easy life. She makes you proud to be from Iowa," Bannister said. "It was a wonderful feeling (watching the Olympics) just to know that I had met her. As far as all of us are concerned, she's a winner."
Mykal Sadler, 10, had a Drake Relays champions flag to be autographed on Friday. Mykal was reaching out from the front row to high-five Jones during her victory lap at the 2006 Relays when Jones handed her the flag.
And Mykal and a friend, Nadine Phanfil, ran on the Des Moines Youth track team. It's not only the same team that Jones ran on, but Phanfil's mother, Kendra, was a teammate of Jones.
"We have all of her clippings," said Mykal's mother, Eleena. "Then, when we found out this summer that Lolo ran for Des Moines Youth, that made the connection even more so."
Nadine said that she'd like to follow in Jones' speedy footsteps.
"I really want to be fast and have all the records," she said.
Twins Brianna and Lauren Kline, 11, waited in line with their mother and two toddler sisters. Brianna had a photo of Jones that she wanted to get autographed.
"I want something to show my sisters when they grow up," Brianna said.
Patti Cale-Finnegan and daughter Alice, 7, wanted an Olympic souvenir hat autographed.
"My daughter was born in China and we visited in 2007," Cale-Finnegan said. "It was kind of cool that it was in China, so we paid attention with everything that was going on with the Olympics. And Lolo Jones is such a wonderful role model; she's amazing."
The welcome-back ceremony lasted about a half-hour. Jim Hallihan of the Iowa Games presented Jones with the Games' sportsmanship gold medal that read "Pursuing victory with honor."
An unscripted moment during the ceremony came courtesy of Jay Triplett, 74, of Winterset.
Dressed as Uncle Sam - complete with a white beard, a stars-and-stripes hat, a blue coat, and red and white striped pants - Triplett grabbed the microphone and sang "God Bless Lolo" to Jones.
Jones, who earlier attended an assembly at Roosevelt High School, said she was wowed by the good wishes she has received since returning to Des Moines.
"I am so glad that people came out to support me," Jones said.
"The Olympics were six weeks ago. For people to come out and tell me that I've inspired them - I love it. There's other people that received medals and didn't receive any kind of welcoming home from their own cities. It's amazing. I'm truly blessed to be from Iowa."
Source: The Des Moines Register
Lolo Jones returned to Iowa and thrilled Roosevelt High School students with a surprise visit to her alma mater and signed autographs for hours at Jordan Creek Town Center.
Lolo greets hundreds of fans at Jordan Creek. She was scheduled to sign autographs until 7 p.m., but stayed later because the line was so long.
Earlier on Friday Lolo made a surprise visit to her alma mater and thrilled fans at a Roosevelt pep assembly.
Crossing her fingers, Lolo Jones laughed as she reacted to question from Channel 13 Sports Director Keith Murphy. Jones was interviewed moments before her homecoming celebration held at the amphitheater at Jordan Creek Town Center in West Des Moines on Friday, Oct. 10th.
Lolo Jones smiled as she held out for the crowd to see the medal that was presented to her by Jim Hallihan, executive director of the Iowa Sports Foundation.
Lolo Jones signed a 2008 Beijing Olympics shirt for David Weiss, of Urbandale, at her homecoming celebration held at Jordan Creek Town Center.
Bea Winters, of Adel, held a copy of the Des Moines Register with a photo of Lolo Jones as Winters attended the homecoming celebration.
Lolo Jones acknowledged the applause of the crowd at her homecoming celebration held at the amphitheater at Jordan Creek Town Center.
Jordan Selmer, age 12 of Story City, signed a large card for Lolo Jones at her homecoming celebration.
Lolo Jones addressed the crowd at her homecoming celebration held at the amphitheater at Jordan Creek Town Center.
Lolo Jones smiled as she waved and held out for the crowd to see the medal that was presented to her by Jim Hallihan, executive director of the Iowa Sports Foundation.
Lolo Jones, right, pumped her fist as she was serenaded by Jerry Triplett, of Winterset, who dressed as Uncle Sam sang as song with his own lyrics about Jones.
Lolo Jones, center right, talked with Keith Murphy, Channel 13 Sport Director, at her homecoming celebration held at the amphitheater at Jordan Creek Town Center.
Holding her Iowa Games medals, Morghan Jackson, age 8 from Urbandale, posed with Lolo Jones at Jones' homecoming celebration.
Lolo Jones, right, autographed her poster for Jennifer Stilwell, age 7 of East Des Moines, at Jones' homecoming celebration.
Lolo Jones smiled as she held up letter with art work given to her by Jessica Stilwell, of Urbandale, at Jones' homecoming celebration.
Lolo Jones reacted to the cheers from the crowd at her homecoming celebration held at the amphitheater at Jordan Creek Town Center.
Source: The Des Moines Register
Olympic Hurdler Brushes Off Beijing Disappointment
Olympic track and field star Lolo Jones visited West Des Moines Friday to thank the fans who supported her as she competed in Beijing.
While she didn't return home with the medal she wanted, fans were proud of the grace she showed following her heartbreaking breakdown in the hurdles.
"She never gave up, even when she fell," said fan Mikayle Zmolek.
"Lolo is just a great role model," said fan Herb Ewing. "Not just for children, but parents, too."
Jones told fans that her Olympic disappointment was just another hurdle in her life's storied struggles.
"I've been through struggles before," she said. "There were so many times I did not win." .
Jones said she's been taking time off since her last race in mid-September. She's been speaking to groups, signing autographs and raising money for charity. She's also been helping Iowa flood victims and basking in the support of the fans.
"I don't have a medal, but I feel like I did receive the medal," she said. "It's crazy. I love it!"
Check out the video here.
What a beautiful young lady and a 1st class athlete. Our very own LoLo Jones a remarkable and beautiful athlete who will forever grace our hearts with her courage, her perservance, and her generous loving heart. At her home coming rally tonight, sports anchor Keith Murphy shared with the audience not just of LoLo's struggles as a young girl growing up and her journey mastering her sport - a hurdles runner- but her generous spirit that led her to give the money she had received to a survivor of the Iowa flood of 2008. 
Source: Boomerang
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Olympic Hurdler Set For Sports Show Appearance
Olympic hurdler Lolo Jones is thanking fans in her hometown of Des Moines.
Jones visited children at the House of Mercy day care center on Wednesday. She posed for pictures with the children, played games and handed out medals to all the participants.
Jones is also scheduled to appear on the Iowa Sports Hero show on Thursday.
Source: KCCI
Normally, at this time of the year Lolo Jones would already be enjoying a well deserved holiday but this is no normal year – in all respects – and Lolo will have to wait a little bit longer before she can fly to the Caribbean or Mexico…
“I thought my life was hectic on the road during the season but it has been even busier since the season ended.
“I can’t believe how crazy I’ve been with so many speaking engagements and so much media interest, especially considering I never even won a medal in Beijing.
“I’ve only been back home to Baton Rouge for five days – and even then it has only been for an odd day at a time.
“There is a lot of media lined up in my home state of Iowa and I also appeared on the Bonnie Hunt show, which is a national day-time talk show. Normally I can sit down at the end of a season and go on vacation but not this time, at least not yet.
“I’ve also managed to pick up some external sponsors and made some money for being an athlete away from the track, which I suppose is every athlete’s dream.
“Next, well I hope it is not too long until I do have that vacation. I normally get the chance to chill out and do nothing for five weeks in the off-season and hopefully it won’t be long before I book a holiday in the Caribbean or Mexico.
“I have at least had the chance to indulge in a few things I normally wouldn’t during the off-season – in fact I’ve had the diet of a five-year-old!
“I’ve been eating things like spaghetti hoops and cup cakes, although thankfully my weight doesn’t fluctuate too much and when I return to training on November 3 I hope I won’t be too big!
“Yet what I have done and what I am doing is largely irrelevant after a huge shadow has been cast over my off-season following the tragic death of my friend, LeJuan Simon, who died last week.
“He was a fellow Louisiana State University athlete and I remember the last time I saw him was very skinny when normally he had a very big body build. I knew he had a disease, although he was insistent when we last spoke before the Olympics that he would beat it. I’ll always remember him for his funny, charming, goofy-kind of smile. I was devastated to receive the news.
“Unfortunately, I cannot attend the funeral but my thoughts will always be with him.”
Lolo
*LeJuan Simon, who won the 2004 NCAA indoor triple jump title died in Baton Rouge aged 27 due to complications with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension, a condition that creates additional pressure in the pulmonary artery responsible for supplying blood and the necessary oxygen to the lungs. He also represented Trinidad at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
Source: IAAF
Des Moines native and track star Lolo Jones spoke to Principal Financial Group employees in downtown Des Moines about her 2008 Olympic experience, inspiration and achieving goals. To start the video at the beginning, simply click on the Lolo Jones entry at the top of the On-Demand list.
Source: The Des Moines Register
Des Moines Olympian Lolo Jones will attend a homecoming celebration Friday at Jordan Creek Town Center in West Des Moines.
The hurdler who graduated from Des Moines Roosevelt will be on hand from 5-7 p.m. to give away some unique prizes, pose for pictures, sign autographs and more. WHO TV-13 sports director Keith Murphy will emcee a brief program.
The event and parking are free.
Source: The Des Moines Register
Des Moines Roosevelt track star Lolo Jones became an unintended Olympic icon in Beijing - without reaching the finish line first.
Jones was lauded for courage and character in the toughest of circumstances when she nicked the second-to-last hurdle Aug. 19 with a commanding lead in the women's 100-meter finals, as gold slipped away and she ultimately finished seventh.
The moment was painful, but also eye-opening as everyone from strangers to Dallas Cowboys NFL star Terrell Owens empathized and reached out.
Jones, who returns to Des Moines this week, answered questions Monday about the fateful night in China — and her future.
Question: What did you do that night?
Lolo Jones: "It took me a while to get back. I tried to walk back to (Olympic) Village, because I was so mad that I didn't want to get on the bus. I wanted to cool off. They wouldn't let me walk down the street, even though I had the right passes. I had to take a cab back to Village.
"Angela Whyte, another hurdler and friend from Team Canada, she kind of took me to the side and hung out. The Olympic Village had an arcade. We just kind of played basketball at the arcade. I remember she won and I said, 'I can't even win in basketball.' I was already joking less than three hours later.
"When I went back to my room ... I cried and definitely couldn't get any sleep.
"I'm still learning lessons from that night. It's definitely going to make me stronger for my next Olympics."
Q: So there's definitely another Olympics for you?
LJ: "Yeah, definitely. I want to reassure people about that. In the hurdles, you peak at 28 to 33. We get better as we're older - so the good news is, I'll be at my prime. (Editor's note: She's 26 now.)
"Maybe I have two more Olympics in me. Allen Johnson ran (in the Olympic Trials at 37).
"What helps me, four years ago when I didn't make the team, I was like, 'Oh my gosh, this is the end of the world,' but those four years flew by so fast."
Q: Who's the most interesting or famous person you heard from after the Olympics?
LJ: "Terrell Owens. He was watching the Olympics with his assistant, who used to work with USA Track & Field. He was like, 'Oh my gosh, I just want to speak with her but I don't know what to say' when he saw me hit the hurdle.
"They called and I went to my first NFL game (Dallas-Washington) and hung out with Terrell. I learned his name is Tear-ell, not Tuh-rell.
"It sucks, though, because the Cowboys lost."
Q: What was Terrell Owens like?
LJ: "I didn't know he was perceived as a showboat or whatever. When I met him, he was cordial, nice and I didn't see any of that.
"The first time we were kind of talking in our meeting, we were watching the LSU-Auburn game. Since I went to LSU, I was rooting for them. He was going for other Tigers since he's from Alabama.
"We bet on the game. I said if I win, he'd have to get me a pink jersey with his number to wear to the game. If he won, I'd wear whatever he wanted me to wear to the game.
"He lost, and sure enough got me a pink jersey with his number and name on it."
Q: What did he say to you about ( the Olympic finals)?
LJ: "He just wanted me to keep my head up for the next Olympics and refocus. I just think it was really cool that he took an interest in my situation.
"He knows as an athlete, when something like that happens - there's not much you can say. You just to reach out and show support, which is the main thing."
Q: Have you watched the race?
LJ: "I've watched the race - one time. After we literally crossed the line at the Olympics (on the JumboTron). I was like, 'What did I do? What did I do technically wrong? I thought, 'Gosh, I didn't realize I was that far ahead.'
"They showed a little of the clip when I was on the 'Bonnie Hunt Show,' but I couldn't watch. It's still just too hard for me to watch right now. Maybe someday, though."
Q: Hurricane Ike battered Baton Rouge (La.) where you, your mother, sister and others live. Was everything OK with you and your family?
LJ: "My house, it was like the hand of God was on top of it. It was like the only house in the neighborhood that didn't have a ton of shingles missing, roofing problems, the fence didn't come down.
"My mom lives, like, five minutes away. There was a tree leaning down on her house, but they pushed it the other way - so they were fine."
Q: What has surprised you most about your time since the Olympics?
LJ: "Just getting recognized in the most random places. In Europe, I'm used to people knowing who I am or asking for my autograph. Coming back to the U.S. all these years, nobody had a clue.
"Now, I go to the grocery store, don't comb my hair and people recognize me. I've got to worry about that more now, huh?"
Source: The Des Moines Register
By Daria Belov
This Friday, October 3rd, chiropractor Michael Dorausch, founder of planetchiropractic.com, is one of several sponsors providing funding for the 2008 Ante up for Autism event in Dana Point California. The event features celebrity hosts Jenny McCarthy, seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, and many celebrity guests.
The casino style event (which includes a poker tournament) takes place at the St. Regis Hotel in Dana Point, CA on Friday night.
This is the second annual Ante up for Autism event and it has been organized by Talk About Curing Autism (TACA). TACA provides information, resources, and support to families affected by autism. For families who have just received the autism diagnosis, TACA aims to speed up the cycle time from the autism diagnosis to effective treatments.
During the past 10+ years, Dr. Dorausch has authored dozens of news articles on topics related to Autism and Vaccination, controversial topics that often involve great criticism. Jenny McCarthy was first featured in a planetchiropractic.com article in September of 2007, when she was appearing on the Oprah Winfrey show discussing similar topics.
For those attending the event there is an Ante up Poker tournament as well as general admission casino style night taking place. The night also features a silent auction and live auction with items being donated by Andre Agassi, Dean Koontz, Jimmy Carter, and many others.
Besides masters of ceremonies Jenny McCarthy and Lance Armstrong, celebrity guests expected to be attending this event include San Clemente professional skateboarder Ryan Scheckler, pro skateboard veteran Tony Hawk, former NFL quarterback Jim Everett (1989 Rams Most Valuable Player Award), American track and field athlete Lolo Jones, professional mountain bike racer Brian Lopes, and others.
Also attending Ante up for Autism will be professional poker players Michelle Lau (Co-founder and CEO of FIDPA - Federation Internationale de Poker Association), Kenna James (World Poker Tour Canada TV Host), Kristi Blakey, Amir Vahedi, Marcel Luske, and Pamela Brunson. Other well-known poker players are expected to attend.
Planet Chiropractic would like to thank all those supporting and attending this important fund-raising event. We are pleased to be a sponsor and wish TACA all the best in their awareness raising efforts.
Source: Planet Chiropractic
Olympic Hurdler Lolo Jones talks about the 2012 Olympics.
Lolo Jones stayed overseas after her difficult Olympic finals race, where she clipped a hurdle, but now she's back in Iowa. Lolo made her return public, on SoundOff Sunday night.
Moments after stepping off a plane, the Roosevelt alum joined Keith Murphy and Andy Fales in the Channel 13 studios. She says emails from home helped her get through a rough spot, after losing the gold medal at the summer games.
Lolo told Keith that it was hard to face reporters during interviews after the race, but she knew it was important to have a positive outlook. "In the back of my mind, I'm going to learn so much from this. I'm going to come back stronger and then what's even crazier, I thought about four years ago, not even making the team and how I was devastated in that, I grew from that experience. I know it's a long detour but I'm going to grow from this experience," said Lolo.
Lolo says she's hungry for the next Olympics, but she's also ready to start the next track season here at the Drake Relays.
Source: WHO TV
We all felt for the Des Moines native when she fell in the 100-meter final, and her dreams of Olympic gold were dashed.
But Lolo has already picked herself up, dusted herself off, and proved that she is still the world's number one hurdler.
Ten days after the fall in the Olympic final, Lolo Jones of Des Moines, dominated the 100-meter hurdles in Zurich Switzerland.
Lolo Jones said, "I won that race, and that's what I needed to win to show people like look, if I wouldn't have hit those hurdles, Lolo would have come back with a medal."
But on August 19th, Lolo did hit the second to last hurdle, in the lead, 20 meters from Olympic Gold, slipping to 7th place.
She says she was just trying to do too much.
Jones: "I was trying to not only win a medal but i was trying to break the Olympic record."
She didn't, but Lolo certainly set a record for post-race grace and class, in the face of devastating defeat.
Jones: "Everyone knows at some point in their life they've had something that they wanted so bad and maybe they haven't gotten it or they had to work harder for it. I think that's why so many people can relate to what I've been through."
Cards, letters, email, text messages of support; Lolo has loved them all.
Jones: "It helped when i needed it the most."
She's back in Des Moines, not training, taking time off. Eating anything she wants.
She just turned 26; young for a hurdler.
Jones: "for me, 28 to 33, that's when I'll be at my prime."
Primed and ready to run in London in 20-12.
"Keep your spirits up for me Iowans because I'll be back."
Watch a video of the interview here.
Source: KCCI
13 September 2008 - 16:20Wind: 0.3 m/s
Position Lane Bib Athlete Country Mark . React
1 6 34 Josephine Onyia ESP 12.54 . 0.154
2 4 141 LoLo Jones USA 12.56 . 0.128
3 7 65 Delloreen Ennis-London JAM 12.56 . 0.148
4 8 134 Dawn Harper USA 12.67 . 0.182
5 3 66 Brigitte Foster-Hylton JAM 12.76 . 0.137
6 1 22 Priscilla Lopes-Schliep CAN 12.81 . 0.139
7 5 12 Sally McLellan AUS 12.82 . 0.137
8 2 135 Joanna Hayes USA 13.06 . 0.156
LoLo Jones of the U.S., right, and Sally McLellan from Australia clear a hurdle in the women's 100 meters hurdles race at the IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008.
Lolo Jones of the US smiles during a press conference for the upcoming 6th World Athletics Final at the Mercedes-Benz Arena on September 12, 2008 in Stuttgart, Germany. The IAAF World Athletics Final take place on 13th and 14th September at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Stuttgart.
