LoloWiki

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

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

After a devastating end of an Olympic campaign which included a new personal best 12.43, US champion Lolo Jones showed the class and the heart of a champion.

“If I cannot make it over ten hurdles I do not deserve to be the champion.”

“I want to go home and hide in my house and cry, but I’m just going to go out there and keep running.”

“Racing and winning, that is what I want to do to get over the disappointment.

“I have never won the IAAF World Athletics Final, so that is my goal now.”

After her Brussels appearance tonight, Lolo will take time out for a little fun. She’s heading back to the United States to attend the US Open as a guest of Stephen Schwarzman, Chairman and CEO of one of the world’s largest investment firms, The Blackstone Group.

“I can imagine how crushing this type of disappointment is and I thought that having a trip to New York and watching another great sporting match perhaps might help her refocus onto something positive,” Schwarzman wrote in an email invitation to Jones’ agent, Robert Wagner.

“I have been trying to catch up with the tennis results to see who will actually be in the final,” said Jones of the US Open.

“I am really looking forward to it. I will have a couple of days in New York so I’m also looking forward to going shopping there.”

“I need to keep busy and I didn’t want to travel back home to Baton Rouge because of what has happened with the Hurricane.

“This time, the Hurricane hit Baton Rouge a lot harder than New Orleans. A tree fell down in my front yard and a tree in my backyard and there is no electricity. It’s flooded all around. My brother and my sister have put sand bags all around the house and I really do not want to go back home until the end of the athletics season as it will be too much of a distraction.”

Lolo

Source: IAAF

World Indoor champion Lolo Jones reflects on her Olympic 100m Hurdles final and looks forward to the end of the Grand Prix season.

“Hi again,

“Okay, so we’ll get the hard part out of the way first. Everyone has been asking what went wrong? Why did I trip over hurdle nine when leading the Olympic final?

“Well, the simple answer is I just don’t have one. It is the hurdles. Stuff happens. Lots of people have been trying to put words in my mouth into why I tripped but I can’t give a clear explanation.

“All I can say is that I felt fantastic going into the final. I was so focused. Everything seemed to click in the middle of the race but those hurdles always approach quicker and quicker and you can either slow down and break or keep turning your legs over. I turned my legs over and tripped over hurdle nine.

“It is strange. I could have played it safe and just tried to win a medal, but that is what I thought in Osaka and ended up missing out and finishing sixth.

“No, I said to myself it is important and run well, run as fast as I ever have done and put on a good show for the crowd.

“It’s funny that after reflecting on what happened I feel I achieved a number of my goals. I ran a lifetime best of 12.43 in the semi-finals and I was leading the race – until at least hurdle nine.

“I also have to put the performance in perspective. Four years ago I sat watching the women’s 100m hurdles final in tears after I failed to qualify through the Olympic Trials. Now here I was crying on the track after failing to win the gold medal.

“Of course, I guess all I wanted to do was run off the track and talk to my family after the race but I had a duty to front up to the media and talk to the press guys. They had shown an interest in me during the rounds when I was the fastest it was only fair I explained myself to them as best I could.

“As you can imagine I found it hard to sleep that night. I hung out with Angela Whyte the Canadian hurdler and we played basketball in the international zone until 4.30pm in the morning. We tried to score hoops and Angela won. I joked with her ‘Damn, I can’t even win a game of basketball.’ I don’t think I got to sleep until 7.30am.

“I’ve been overwhelmed with the response from people who sent me texts and emails offering their support. That last few days have been a bit rough and I truly thank them all. But it is no use looking back, I have to look forward.

“I plan to run as many races as I can in Europe starting with Zurich (on Aug 27) and I’m using Susanna Kallur as my inspiration. Susanna went into last year’s World Championships in Osaka expected to medal, but she finished fourth. She bounced back by running as well as she ever had done at the back of the season and carried that roll on into the indoor season. I hope to do the same.

“I’m certainly not giving up and my next big goal is the 2012 Olympics in London, which has a bit of a ring to it. Lolo Jones London that has three Lo’s in it. Yes, that sounds good!”

Lolo

World Indoor champion and newly crowned US champion Lolo Jones is now heading to China to take part in her first Olympic Games. She tells IAAF readers all about it…

“Hi guys,

“This is it. The preparations are all out of the way. No more rehearsals. No more excuses.

“The next time I will step on my blocks will be at the Olympic Games in Beijing. Wow.

“I’m back in Baton Rouge now after my second visit to Europe where I raced in Barcelona, Stockholm and London and I was fairly pleased with how I ran. Three races, three wins and all in the 12.5s and 12.6s which is what I wanted.

“My first race back after winning the US trials in Barcelona was quite tough simply because I was still a little mentally drained after the trials and it was hard even warming up and getting back into the routine.

“Although, it is going to be my first Olympics I feel better prepared than last year when I struggled to peak for the World Championships because I ran too many races.

“It is also important not to over-train or go any specials diets – if I want a piece of cake I’ll have a piece of cake!

“It is also important I put a lid on my training and not do any crazy workouts. Your instincts tell you to train harder but my coach, Dennis Shaver, has to keep telling me rest is crucial at this stage of preparation.

“It is obviously going to be my first Olympic Games and I’m really excited. I keep asking athletes who have made the Olympic team. How is it? What is the atmosphere like? What procedures do you have to go through? I’m also really excited to see other athletes in other sports, like tennis, because I’ve never been to a multi-sports competition.

“I shall also be looking out for Shawn Johnson, a gymnast, from my home city of Des Moines, Iowa. Iowa has a big send off for the two of us, and it is funny that we are both reigning World champions.

“I’ve also noticed since winning the Olympic trials people have started to recognise me. It feels weird people coming up to me when I’ve been shopping and they are offering to buy me dinner.

“Also I was at a gas station recently and someone said: ‘Are you Lolo?’ I said, ‘don’t you want to pay for my gas?’ But they kept on moving. It’s pretty cool, though, that America is finally embracing track. Mind you, I still can’t get a date, though.

“My mum and sister and her kids are going out to Beijing and obviously everyone has been asking me about my expectations going into Beijing. All I want is to run a clean race like I did at the US trials. I need the complete race.

“In Europe I’ve had races partly good and partly not so good. I’ve got to pull it all back together again. It doesn’t mean I have to win in Beijing but I would like a nice clean race.”

Lolo

Source: IAAF

Just a few hours after she won the US Olympic Trials in a wind aided 12.29 - an amazing performance - World Indoor champion Lolo Jones can't sleep...so she decides to write to the IAAF readers...

“Hi again,

“Wow! I am sat here writing my latest diary piece at 3am just over nine hours after I qualified for the Olympic team by winning the US Trials in 12.29!

“I can hardly believe it. I am on such a high I cannot sleep and I’m so excited to finally qualify for the Olympic Games.

“I’m just so pleased the hard work has paid off. Four years ago I didn’t even make the final of the US Olympic Trials and now here I am as the US champion. I’ve always had confidence in my ability and I now think I’m entering my peak.

“I turn 26 next month and I remember the likes of Joanna Hayes and Gail Devers reaching their peak in their late 20s, early 30s.

“I actually really started to freak out ahead of my semi-final. The wind was blowing really strong and I normally don’t like a strong tailwind because it is easier to hit the hurdles and make mistakes.

“I nearly lost it out there, my heart was beating so fast but I had to tell myself to take control of my emotions and believe.

“In the semis I set a new lifetime best of 12.45 and I actually felt better ahead of the final than the semi. At least then I knew I was one of the eight people in the final and I had a good shot at one of the top three places.

“The final was a strange race. When I look back on most of my races I can say I hit hurdle five or whatever but in the final I was like a freight train and I just got into a rhythm. I crossed the line first but it wasn’t until I saw my name on the scoreboard for first place that I dare celebrate.

“People will talk of me threatening the world record of Yordanka Donkova of 12.21 after running 12.29 but people should realise that is a windy mark (a 3.8mps), so we’ll just have to see.

“Since running the final I’ve done a whole bunch of interviews and then gave a urine and a blood sample to the anti-doping people.

“I eventually sat down with my sponsors, Asics, for something to eat around midnight and then briefly spoke to my family on the phone.

“Now I’m sat here writing my diary, and because I’m on such a high I don’t know whether I will get to sleep at all tonight.

“I doubt it.

Til the next time”

Lolo

Source: IAAF

World Indoor champion Lolo Jones has finally returned home from her early season European tour and not only is she getting ready for the US Olympic Trials, she can finally feel nice and clean!

“Hi again,

“After three weeks on the European circuit I’m putting my finishing touches to my preparations for the US Olympic Trials back home here in Baton Rouge.

“It is always great to be back home again and one of the big advantages is I can have two one-hour massages a week to ease the stress on my tired and aching limbs.

“When I’m in Europe I often have to rely on what the meet organiser provides, which is often only 30 minutes.

“Overall, I was pleased with my five outings on the European tour (Lolo won three and placed second and third in the other two) because it showed I’m a versatile runner.

“If I have a bad start, or a stumble it doesn’t matter because I’m still going to have a good race.

“It showed me that if I put together all the elements I’ll enjoy my perfect season. I had a little hip pain for my last race in Ostrava but I was pleased I could still run in the 12.60s.

“Berlin was good because it is the earliest point in the season that I’ve run that fast (12.57) and even though I had some technical issues in Oslo I still ran well.

“When I last wrote my diary I mentioned I lost my luggage, but although I had no such problems this time I did face another difficulty – I had no access to a washer and dryer around Europe for so long I started to stink!

“I travelled to Europe for three weeks but I can’t pack for three weeks because I’ll get charged for extra baggage. You pack clothes which will last a week and you end up washing them in the hotel sink.

“You can use the hotel washer but it is really expensive, so by the end of the trip all you want to go home to use your washer and dryer again.

“Besides enjoying wearing clean clothes the reality has dawned on me that the US Olympic Trials are almost upon us. We are one of the final events on the programme, so I guess they have saved the best until last in what will be a very competitive race.

“People ask me would you prefer to have your event earlier in the schedule but it really doesn’t bother me either way.

“I just know I am much better prepared for the experience having gone through the whole process four years ago. On that occasion I was fresh out of college and my eyes were wide open like a bug. But I’ve learned to handle my emotions better and I’m used to regularly performing on the European circuit in front of large crowds.

“Everyone is keeping their distance from me at the moment. I don’t think they want to unleash the dragon. I’m like a race horse ready to go. But am I confident I can secure Olympic qualification? Yes, I am.

“I’ve learned so much and the 100m Hurdles is the type of event where experience really counts.”

Lolo

Source: IAAF

USA’s World Indoor 60m Hurdles champion Lolo Jones is already well into her competitive outdoor season, and in her latest diary for the IAAF website she reflects on her faster than usual times at the start of the season, and the enjoyment and difficulties of travelling around the international circuit with the peril of lost luggage always at the back of an athlete’s mind.


“Hi again,

It is nice to be back competing again and after three competitions this year I’ve been running a lot faster than I normally run at this time of year. I started the season with victories in Baton Rouge (12.72) and in Drake (12.74) and then went on to Doha and finished second (behind Brigitte Foster-Hylton) in 12.65.”

Note: since this diary was written, last weekend - 24 May - Lolo ran and won in Hengelo in 12.87.

“Doha was a weird race because I got my arms tangled up with Josephine Onyia and I hit hurdles five, six and seven. At one point I didn’t even think I would finish the race, so I was pleased to clock 12.65 for second. It was certainly a lot faster than last year when I started out in the 12.80s before then moving on to the 12.70s.

Doha is also a long way from America and you always feel you hit the wall with tiredness when you get there. The problem was my luggage went missing along with Allyson Felix’s and Virginia Powell’s. I always carry my essentials such as kit and spikes in my hand luggage because I’ve lost my luggage so many times, but it still meant I had to wear the same outfit for three days. I am sponsored by Asics, but because most athletes are sponsored by Nike or Adidas it is not even like I can easily change clothes to match my sponsor.

Thankfully, because I was travelling, I wore a bunch of layers on the plane, so one day I was wearing a long sleeves, another day a tank top. It is always funny seeing the crazy ways athletes have to dress when they have so few clothes to choose from after losing their luggage!

Now I move on the European leg of the season where I hope to run five times before returning back home for the US Trials. I plan to compete in Hengelo on Saturday (see note above) before going on to Belgrade, Berlin, Oslo and Ostrava. This could change, but I don’t mind regularly competing because I know I’m going to have to race two races each day over two days at the Olympics and my body has to become used to those demands.

I enjoy travelling around Europe, although I don’t get to see a lot other than the hotel or track. I just enjoy competing in countries such as Germany, Belgium or Great Britain because their fans have a good knowledge of athletics and, usually, full stadiums. Some athletes have already been running crazy, fast times in the 100m hurdles this year but you expect that because it is an Olympic year.”

Lolo

Source: IAAF

World Indoor 60m Hurdles gold medallist Lolo Jones talks about preparing for the new season and her ‘taste of the summer’ at the annual Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival in her latest online diary for the IAAF.

“Hi, back again and the first thing I’ve got to say is I can’t wait to start my season at the Drake Relays at the weekend, if only as a break from the training.

“Everything is pretty hard core at the moment with the running and the weights. The 6x200m sessions are really tough because I’m expected to run every one quicker than the previous one and I’m on all fours on my hands and knees at the end of each session.

“Honestly, the only part of training I normally like is the weights training, but recently I’m not too sure I like that anymore because it has all been so tough.

“My training partner Stephanie Durst (a 22.48 200m runner) pushes me hard in training and as you would expect from a 200m runner, she gets the better in the 200m session – but I don’t like to give even half an inch and in the 60m to 100m sessions it is a lot closer, we are very competitive.

“Although training is hard at the moment I do like to make sure I do at least one thing each week as a release from the stresses and strains of training.

“Last week I bought a kayak and went out on the lakes for a couple hours and I can see myself doing it more often, although mainly in the off season.

“I also recently went to the Strawberry Festival at Ponchatoula in Louisiana. Many people associate California with strawberries but Louisiana has some beautiful strawberries, too, and I went along because a sister of a pole vaulter on the team was the Strawberry Queen at the Festival.

“It was so nice to go because it felt like a real taste of summer for me. As an American track and field athlete we miss all the summer festivals because we are away racing in Europe, we even miss out on celebrating the fourth of July.

“Seeing everyone have fun was great and I’ll definitely try and go again next year. By then I might actually feel like eating a strawberry again.

“I bought a crate of strawberries but I’m a little sick of them now, especially as everything at the festival had a strawberry flavour, whether that be strawberry shortcake, strawberry cheesecake even strawberry wine!

“But for now I’m looking forward to starting my season at the Drake Relays in my home town of Des Moines. It has a nice Mondo track there and a big crowd and it is one of the few meetings here in America which is close to being like a European meeting.

“My eldest brother still lives there and I’ll be meeting with my mum, sister and dad for a real family reunion. I’ll also be giving a talk to my kids at my old High School, Theodore Roosevelt.

“But the main aim is to start my season off with a victory in the hurdles where I hope to break my meeting record.”

Lolo

Source: IAAF

Lolo Jones struck gold at the World Indoor Championships in Valencia earlier this month with a silky smooth performance in the 60m Hurdles. In her first online diary Lolo writes about how her life has changed after her first major championship success, her future plans and what it was like to meet basketball legend Michael Jordan.

“It’s been a pretty hectic time since the World Indoor Championships in Valencia and I’ve just been to Florida for an Oakley presentation where I’ve met some pretty cool people. Oakley, my personal eyeglass sponsors, have just launched their first sunglasses made specifically for female athletes.

“I put some input into the design of the glasses and it’s been super-exciting be involved. In the past they made just unisex glasses which did always quite look right for women because men have a bigger head. These glasses are really, really light, fit across the bridge of a girl’s nose better and come in more feminine colours like lipstick red.

“There were lots of celebrities at the presentation including Michael Jordan, who was surrounded by his PR people and bodyguards. It took quite a while to set up the chance to chat with him but after I was introduced as a World champion he was super-polite and gave me such a strong handshake. I suffered a bit of a black out and I can’t remember too much about what I said to him, except saying something like he was the best basketball player ever and he said it would be a pleasure to watch me on TV.

“I have been a bit surprised with the level of interest in me since winning the World Indoor title. I made a speech at the Oakley presentation and I was completely booked out with interviews from magazines. I don’t know why they have been so interested in me, but I like to offer my fitness advice and tips to the average Joe in the magazines.”

On training since Valencia…

“I was given one week off and then one week’s active rest in which I would do weights but no running. I told my coach (Dennis Shaver) I was ready to come back after a week but he told me to take one week’s active rest. I’m back to training next week and I can already picture returning back to full training and throwing up again during the hard sessions.”

On her future competition plans…

“I plan to open at the Drake Relays (Apr 24-26) and then do a couple of American meetings and maybe a couple of Golden League meetings. But I need to sit down and draw up a proper schedule before the American Trials.”

On her confidence since winning gold in Valencia…

“You would think that I would be more confident than ever, but I’m also humble. Susanna Kallur pulled out injured (in Valencia) and of the two Canadians one got sick (Angela Whyte) and the other tripped over a hurdle (Priscilla Lopes-Schliep).

“There was also no Michelle Perry (the world 100m hurdles champion) in Valencia or Virginia Powell (two-time US champion), so I’m humble in victory.”

Lolo

Source: IAAF