Lolo Jones: Track Sensation Has Slim Chance at Bringing Home Olympic Gold

American Olympic hurdler Lolo Jones has been one of the most talked-about athletes heading into the 2012 London Games, and rightfully so.

She's attractive, charismatic, down to earth and was awarded a spot as one of five American athletes to grace the cover of TIME Magazine.

Despite all of the accolades and publicity, Jones isn't going to win a gold medal in London. Some people are going to be upset by the outcome across the Atlantic Ocean, but here's why it will pan out that way.

First of all, Jones isn't the best in the country at what she does. She's not top three. She's not even in the top five.

The 29-year-old Des Moines, Iowa native posted the ninth-fastest 100-meter hurdles time in the country. If she is slower than eight other American racers, there's no way she can beat out the world's best.

Jones was favored to win the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but was unable to do so. She got caught up on the penultimate hurdle and finished in a disappointing seventh place.

The woman who won gold four years ago, Dawn Harper, will be returning to the Olympics and is hungry for her second straight gold medal. Harper placed first in the U.S. Olympic qualifying, 0.13 seconds ahead of Jones' third-place time of 12.86.

It is hard to believe that Jones would have garnered this much hype prior to the Olympics if she had not proclaimed her status as a virgin, thereby setting off a media frenzy. 

Her decisions are her decisions and they shouldn't be questioned or mocked, but Jones surely didn't want the level of attention to rise this quickly and to such a high level as it did. There is enough pressure on Olympic athletes competing for their country, but Jones has more pressure than ever now with all eyes on her.

Jones has one of the most inspirational stories of any athlete, coming from humble beginnings and overcoming serious back surgery to get where is now. Unfortunately, it seems as though a stroke of good luck has sent her to these Olympics, and that luck will run out soon enough.