Lolo Jones Picked for USA Olympic Bobsled Team

American hurdler Lolo Jones, who fell short of her goal of winning a medal at the 2012 London Olympics, probably has a new set of goals in mind now that she's been selected to the United States bobsled team, according to the Associated Press (h/t ABC News).

Jones was one of several track and field stars given the chance to earn a spot on the squad, and she made it as a push athlete. The selection gives her an opportunity to make the final team that will represent the country at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi.

"It was definitely a thrill," Jones said, per the AP. "This is definitely the first time I've made a team and I haven't had to cross the finish line and look at the scoreboard."

The 30-year-old Iowa native first skyrocketed to fame four years ago during the buildup to the last Olympics, establishing herself as a top contender in the 100-meter hurdles. But she failed in the medal race after stumbling over a hurdle.

Her Olympic struggles continued in London. After strong performances in her first two heats, Jones was only able to muster a fourth-place finish in the final. Once again, she missed the podium despite high expectations stateside.

Jones' high level of exposure combined with her lack of results on her sport's biggest stages has led to plenty of criticism. It was highlighted by a scathing piece in The New York Times about her use of sex appeal to attract attention.

Now, she gets a chance to prove the doubters wrong in a completely new sport. Her performances during the testing must have been impressive enough to catch the eye of the coaches, who had no shortage of options for the 24 roster spots.

Her athleticism should make her a good fit for the fast-paced sport, which is always trying to attract track and field athletes to join the fray. Jones gave it a chance and could now make appearances at both the Summer and Winter Games, a terrific feat.

The AP report states she's still planning on making another run toward hurdling gold in 2016, as well.