No medal in the race, but gold for Lolo Jones later

BEIJING -– When she failed to make the 2004 Olympic team after being eliminated in the semifinals at the U.S. trials, hurdler Lolo Jones came to a crossroads.

One way would take her toward a job that used her economics degree from LSU, which made more sense financially for a young woman whose family had struggled through poverty.

The other was to continue in track without the help of an apparel sponsor to defray her expenses. Jones, a former prep star in Des Moines, kept running, slowly got better and better, signed a nice deal with Asics and became the fastest hurdler in the world coming into the Olympics.

Less than 20 meters from an Olympic gold medal Tuesday, in a 100-meter high hurdles race she was commanding, Jones literally ran into another frustration.

This time, Jones is looking only at the same path she has been on, hoping it will take her to London for the 2012 Olympics.

"As a hurdler, you don’t normally peak until 28 to 33, and I'm 26,'' Jones said.  "I definitely have another Olympics in me.

"You know, it's the hurdles.  We're supposed to be the toughest ones.  So I'm going to be tough and try again.''

Ironically, what happened may have been a case of Jones getting ahead of herself.

After a slow start, Jones began rolling so well she took an ever-increasing lead but the 33-inch hurdles began coming up on her too fast.  She had lost control of her steps by the time she reached the ninth hurdle and smacked into it with her lead leg.

"I didn't have the best start but in the middle I caught everybody and I was catching my rhythm but everything was going too fast,'' she said.

"It's like when you're racing a car, and you're going as fast as you can, and you hit a curve, and either you crash and burn or you maintain control.  I crashed and burned today.''

The barrier fell.  Jones stumbled but stayed upright as her rivals flew past, leaving her seventh at the finish.

It was then she fell to her knees, clenched her fists in anger as she struggled to comprehend what had happened and finally covered her face with her hands.

"I was shocked.  My mind was numb,'' she said.  "I worked so hard for this, and it disappeared in less than a second.

"All I could think of was just getting back on my two feet and standing strong.''

Jones did that as she passed through the media interview area, talking for several minutes with a large group of reporters, graciously stopping again to speak with a few others who could not get close enough to hear her.

Her eyes were moist, but she made no excuses, had no complaints, simply explained her misfortune by getting to the essence of the event.

"It's the hurdles,'' she repeated.  "If you can't get over all 10, you can't be the champion.''

I disagree.

A champion is the class of the field.

No one in these Olympics has shown any more class than Lolo Jones.

-- Philip Hersh

Top photo: Lolo Jones after stumbling in the women's 100-meter hurdles. Credit: Christophe Simon / AFP / Getty Images

Inset: Lolo Jones as she left the track. Olivier Morin / AFP / Getty Images

Comments

[C.S.]

Draw a star in your mind and then go on in the next few months to shatter the world record! The "Olympics" is only one race. Long before the Beijing Olympics, you won the biggest one. Achieving intellectual maturity and the development of a profound and stately spirit that stayed on the right track in spite of all the rocks and glass that were place on your track... and all that you over came over the last 26 years of your life. That's a gold medal world record experience that no one else in the world can can claim to have experienced! Be proud of it.

God Bless you in your future...your record will come.

[EPC]

Lolo,

You are an incredible model of sportsmanship to all of us. I was stunned by your race after waiting all evening to watch you fly down the track. The whole scene was surreal and I think it took all of us who wanted you to so deservedly win the gold several minutes to make sense of what happened. And then, in the midst of your anguish you so amazingly spoke with such paramount grace. Turning to my teenage athlete son I said, " Josh, this is greatness".

[William McElligott]

Such a poised lady. Her behavior following her disaster reminded me of Teddy Roosevelt's "Man in the Arena" speech.

"...and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

[Tia Tucker]

Run on Lolo and see what the ends will be! I too am a fan for LIFE!!!

Thank you for you amazing and tenacious story. Thank you so much for allowing your life to be an a testiment to every present and future olympian, entreprenuer, leader and anyone, everyone who aspires to make history! As such, please be reminded of the words of Michael Jordan and Oprah Winfrey, respectively.

“I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
Michael Jordan quotes (American NBA Basketball Player, widely considered to be the greatest player in the history of the game, b.1963)

“I have a lot of things to prove to myself. One is that I can live my life fearlessly.”

[joel]

Lolo

Not only are you clearly the best hurdler on the planet.

Let this fuel a new world record. Best wishes for your future success. You WILL go on to greater hights than you have imagined.

[ZC]

Lolo, true champions are made of your matter, no excuses, facing their mistakes, stepping forward and conquering.

Way after the Beijing Olympics, when nobody remember what happened there you will be enjoying your medal, the medal of life, you are a brave woman, and I pray the Lord to bless you always.

[Ronald-Pierre Vijgen]

Forget about the race,the next one will be your`s.I just love you.That`s good enough for now.Love Ron-Pierre

[uncle joe mccarthy]

i have to agree with sandy...where in the world did nbc dig up some of the commentators and interviewers? during this entire olympics most of the questions have been totally inane and insipid...best commentators are the ones on the net feed...

as for lolo...medal or not, she is a beautiful person inside and out, and im sure the road to england will be much easier

[AbleOne]

She has the speed part down. Looks like she can't get passed the mental part. Won't win a medal if you can't overcome the mental as well. That's what makes a true champion.
She better get used to being a gracious loser if she is going to keep letting the emotion of it all affect her.

[Parker]

My heart literally fell into my chest with your fall. I know we will be seeing you in London and this time with the Gold. God has blessed you with not only the skills to run like the wind but the grace to accept that which you have been given. You are a great example of what a true champion is.

[Mark]

C-L-A-S-S!!!!!!!!! That spells Lolo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[KIM]

Lo Lo,

You possess something more rare and precious than an Olympic gold medal ... you have character. I've read that, in the essence of character, what you say and do defines who you are, and who you are ... you are forever. Your grace and sportsmanship after the race proved the awesome person you truly are.

I've been praying for you the past few days that things will work out well for you and God will continue to bless you. Glad to hear you will still be hurdling.

[Gee]

Wow, this article has a lot of misinformation. For anyone who actually saw the event as opposed to maybe just reading about it knew that:
1. She ended up with the Bronze, therefore the title of this article in incorrect.
2. She told NBC, the first reporter she talked to when finally pulling herdelf off of the track, that she started tightening up that's what caused her to hit the hurdle...hence there was an excuse, but she was happy that she still placed dispite her crash into the second to last hurdle.

Gee Phil, you're making the LAT look bad with all of this false news reporting!

You are refering to Sonya Richards 400 meters. Lolo Jones runs the 110 meter hurdles.

[StandUp]

Lolo Jones has been a major inspiration for me and my family these Olympic games. She has been a great example of dignity and class.

God Bless you Lolo and you will have our support whatever your decision might be.

[Get a life people!]

To all you people writing as if Lolo will be reading this- she has a life and I doubt she's sitting at a computer reading blogs. She spends her time training and trying to become a better runner, not staying up late wondering what some fat slob thinks about her race, trust me, she's moving on.
I'm waiting for some loser to propose lol

[Courtney Hawkins]

LoLo, my heart bleeds for you, but it is not the end. Make the world know that gold belongs to you. There is a lot of track left to be run before its all said and done. We learn from our mistakes. Good luck next race. CHawkins

[Meach]

Lolo,
My prayers are with you. I looked you up on Youtube and the videos of your
interview following your loss were so inspiring, I have spent my entire day finding
out as much about you as I can. I know that God simply has a greater plan for you
than a 2008 Gold Medal. Stay focused and continue to be an inspiration and your
future will exceed what you had originally planned. So many people love you.
Thank you for the gift of your example.
Meach

[Mike, Glen Mills, PA]

Lolo;

In the years to come, whoever reflects on the performance of Lolo Jones at the 2008 Olympic Games will be greeted with a woman of striking beauty, unmatched athletic prowess, and exceptional dedication, sportsmanship and professionalism. Indeed it was heartbreaking to miss the opportunity to take home a gold medal. However, the attributes you showcased in Beijing this summer cannot be understated for their contribution to the pantheon of American sports. Please maintain your outstanding character and dedication as it will place you in good standing in whatever you undertake in the future. God willing, we will get to witness your considerable prowess again in London in 2012.

Best wishes and thank you for an inspiring performance.

[Luc MENET]

Thanks LAT Sports for all the comments.This is one more from very far,a lost island in the Indian Ocean,Madagascar."A French Senior shared so much with you : joy , tears and dignity ... Lolo , you realized the best Olympics time in the semi-final : 12"43...Please keep on ,as you said few seconds after the final "peak up at 30 " to beat the world record in London.You have the class to do it " Bonne chance in the future . Luc