"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
Lao-tzu, The Way of Lao-tzu
Chinese philosopher (604 BC - 531 BC)
For Lolo Jones, her journey included a few hurdles too, but it has been more than the hurdles on the track that Jones has had to overcome.
A self-described tom boy growing up, “Baby Lo,” as she was affectionately called, was willing to do whatever it took to keep up with her brothers.
“I thought I was a little boy,” Jones said. “I just always wanted to play with my brothers. It didn’t matter what sport.”
In time, her brothers’ interests gave way to that of girls, but Jones remained interested in sports. The love of sports brought her to the track for the very first time, a place that would soon unlock the key to her future.
“I was always a book worm and a nerd, but I really loved sports,” Jones remembered, “Track was just another sport for me to do. Hurdles were what were different. Other girls didn’t want to do the hurdles. They knew that if they fell, they’d get scars, but I didn’t care.”
What began as just another sport quickly turned into so much more for Jones. Track became her passion, and she brought that passion with her from Des Moines, Iowa, to LSU as she joined the program in 2001.
During her campaign as a Lady Tiger, Jones was an 11-time All-American and was instrumental leading LSU to a sweep of the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor championships in 2003 and the NCAA Indoor crown again in 2004. In her freshman season, Jones became the first true freshman in team history to earn indoor All-America honors in the 60-meter hurdles. The highly decorated athlete still ranks in the top-three all-time at LSU in both the 60 hurdles and 100 hurdles.
After wrapping up her collegiate career in 2004, Jones found herself in contention for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team at the Olympic Trials in Sacramento, Calif.
But one misstep would cost her dearly.
While running side-by-side with eventual Olympic gold medalist Joanna Hayes, Jones clipped a hurdle as she neared the finish line and crashed to the track. With her Olympic dreams shattered, Jones found herself at a crossroad.
Even with all of her success at LSU, Jones had slipped at a crucial moment in the eyes of the track elite. While several of her teammates received lucrative contracts and sponsorships from some of the top shoe companies in the sport, Jones was passed over.
“No one wanted me to go pro, so at that point I had to decide if I was going to use my economics degree or pursue a career in track and field knowing I wouldn’t get paid for a while. I chose to run,” Jones said.
Jones worked three part-time jobs earning money as a hostess, a personal trainer and an employee at Home Depot. Having to juggle three jobs in addition to a demanding training schedule certainly took its toll on Jones.
“I remember I told Coach (Dennis) Shaver, ‘I can’t take this, all of the emotions and hard work I put into track and not being able to reach my dream. I just don’t know if I can do this,’” Jones recalled.
Jones questioned if her dream was really worth pursuing. Following a 14-day absence from the track, steady encouragement brought her back to the lanes once again. Jones would train for another four years before she got another chance to chase her Olympic dream.
As she worked to revive her track career, Jones had her fair share of doubters. The strong-willed athlete only used the negative comments to fuel her fire.
“When I was running indoors, they said there was a Swede with a faster time and that she would win World Indoors. Then, I went to Worlds and won gold. They said that didn't matter, not all the Americans were there. I thought to myself, ‘OK, I'm going to show you I'm the fastest American,’” Jones said, her voice resonating with determination.
With the U.S. Olympic Trials set to return to “Track Town, USA” in Eugene, Ore., she got her chance.
Jones toiled away in her hotel room anxiously awaiting her turn on the track for the opportunity to prove herself worthy of a spot on the powerful U.S. Olympic Team.
“I remember sitting in my room and watching Stephanie (Durst) and Trindon (Holliday) go and I was just getting more anxious with each minute,” Jones said. “Finally, when I was able to get out of the room, it was like setting a caged bird free.”
And did she fly.
When her time came to show Team USA that she deserved a spot, Jones answered the bell the second time around. She blew away the competition.
The first round of qualifying in the 100-meter hurdles on July 5 was a breeze as she clocked the fastest time in the field of 32 at 12.68 seconds. She returned to the track later that afternoon and again ran the fastest race of the quarterfinals with a blistering time of 12.59.
But her performance the following day would give her the title of Olympic favorite.
Jones fired out of the blocks in the semifinal and crossed the finish line with a new personal best and world-leading time of 12.45 before running away from the rest of the field with a wind-aided 12.29 in the final to be crowned U.S. champion and punch her ticket to Beijing.
“The feeling is so great, but what is even better is knowing that I didn’t make it the first time around,” Jones said. “The Olympics are hard to get to, and I had to wait an extra four years to be on the team. I'm just so appreciative, and I feel like it is an honor to represent the United States.”
Despite her recent success, the Iowa native has remained humble and true to her roots, which might never have been better demonstrated than earlier this year when she donated her race earnings to her home state in the midst of a catastrophic flood.
“It was the happiest day of my life, but I’d been watching on CNN all day how my home state had been devastated,” Jones said. “I knew that in all my happiness, I had to somehow help out.”
Jones donated her $4,000 prize from the Olympic Trials to Renee Trout and her two children, who were victims of the Iowa floods. Two of Jones’ sponsors -- Asics and Oakley -- matched her contribution for a total of $12,000 to aid in the family’s recovery.
“I was in [Baton Rouge] for Katrina, and I had no means to help anyone. I was just out of college and broke,” Jones said. “I just had the opportunity to help this time around, and I did. I don't think it was anything big. I felt like it was my duty.”
Jones has remained true to her roots in Baton Rouge as well.
Since the Olympic Trials, she has competed in and won an additional three races overseas to prove that her performance in Eugene was no fluke. It was more than just luck. It was the culmination of months of preparation and hard word that she attributes to the guidance of her college coach – Dennis Shaver.
“I would like to just share the opportunity with Coach Shaver and LSU,” Jones said. “I don't think that people understand what a big part he has had in my success. So many people think you have to go to these other places and train with maybe more well-known coaches. I've just kept it simple here in Baton Rouge, and that’s made all the difference.”
And as for chasing an Olympic gold medal, Jones has a few ideas what she might do with the prize.
“I think I would just wear it to the mall, the grocery store, the movies and to bed,” she jokes.
Whatever the outcome, one thing is certain. When Jones enters the starting blocks for the first time in Beijing, she has already proven herself to be more than capable of clearing whatever hurdles life throws in her way.
