Lolo Jones may be one step closer to receiving her first Olympic gold medal. Jones helped Team USA notch a gold medal in Bobsledding over the weekend. (Photo : Reuters)
American hurdler Lolo Jones is looking to avenge her name after failing to win a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics
Now in London for the 2012 Summer Olympics, Jones has practiced vigorously to him the 100-meter hurdles. Back in Beijing, Jones was favorite to win but she stumbled after the 9th, of 10, hurdles. She would land in 7th place as fellow Team USA hurdler Dawn Harper captured the gold.
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"It was like racing a car at max velocity. When you hit a curve, you either maintain control or you crash and burn," said Jones following her 2008 defeat. "Today, I crashed and burned. I'm shocked and sad. But I'm happy for the girls."
"It's just a shame that it happened on the biggest race of my life," Jones added.
Jones, 29-years-old from Des Moines, Iowa, recently underwent spinal cord surgery in 2011, which put her chances to participate at the 2012 Olympics. The surgery was to repair a "tethered spinal cord," said Jones. The condition was caused by tissue attaching to the spinal cord at the spinal canal's base. Jones says it was as painful as it sounds.
Jones would make a comeback to the track field at the 2012 U.S. Open.
One major threat for Jones in the 100-meter race will be Australia's 25-year-old Sally Pearson, the current World Hurdles Champion. Pearson has only lost one race in the last 10 months and according to Business Insider, one of her goals is to set the world record with a 12.2-second in the 100-meter hurd.
Outside of the hurdle world, Jones has also been given a reputation similar to NFL's Tim Tebow, as she made the commitment to not have sex until marriage.
"It's just something, a gift that I want to give to my husband. But please understand this journey has been hard. If there's virgins out there, I just want to let them know, it's the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. Harder than training for the Olympics, harder than graduating from college, has been to stay a virgin before marriage."
Women's 100-meter Hurdles Schedule:
100-meter Hurdles Round 1 - August 6, 3:05 p.m. EST
100-meters Hurdles Semifinals - August 7, 2:15 p.m. EST
100-meters Hurdles Final - August 7, 9 p.m. EST
