Lolo Jones: Track Star Proves Ready for Olympic Redemption with Trial Success

United States' track star Lolo Jones jumped the first hurdle to redeeming herself after she faltered at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Jones attended the U.S. Track and Field Trials this past weekend with hopes of earning the right to represent the United States at the Olympics in London this summer. She qualified for the 2012 London Olympics by finishing in third place at the women’s 100-meter hurdles in Eugene, Oregon.

Redemption will be sweet for Jones.

Before the 2008 Beijing Olympics’ 100-meter hurdles, Jones was a heavy favorite to take home the gold medal for the USA. When approaching the next-to-last penultimate hurdle, Jones was locked in to do just that. However, disaster struck and Jones tripped up at that final moment just before glory.

Her teammate, Dawn Harper, surpassed her and still took home the gold for the U.S. team. Jones, however, fell from first to seventh place after breaking her stride on the hurdle.

“Man, I was so close to that gold, I tasted it,” Lolo said. “Everywhere I’ve gone the last four years, people say, ‘Oh, you’re that girl who messed up.’ I no longer want that reputation.”

Jones has recently made another name for herself, this time off-the-track.

She transcended sports recently after telling HBO’s “Real Sports” reporter Mary Carillo that maintaining her virginity is “the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

Her new stardom has come with media attention from nearly every angle. Monday night, she appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno to talk about her qualifying run. After discussing her qualification, the topic quickly and predictably shifted to the issue of her virginity.

This new development gives us all a strong inclination to root for Jones. Without this media frenzy and this glimpse into her personal life, the buzz around women’s 100-meter hurdles may not have gotten your attention.

Lolo Jones’s story has grabbed the attention of our nation.

Lolo Jones, you’ve got that attention now, for however brief of a moment. For one reason or another you’ve got our support and our admiration.

USA!

USA!

USA!

Follow Mike on Twitter @BigHoagowski