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Subscribe to RSSNursing a broken heart from a disappointing fourth-place finish in Tuesday’s 100-meter hurdles, an emotional Lolo Jones fired back at her critics on Wednesday.
Jones opened up about a Saturday New York Times piece that compared her to Anna Kournikova, the former tennis pro known more for her good looks than her accomplishments on the court.
“I think it was crazy just because it was two days before I competed, and then the fact that it was from a U.S. media,’’ Jones told Savannah Guthrie before fighting back tears. “They should be supporting our U.S. Olympic athletes and instead they just ripped me to shreds. I just thought that that was crazy because I worked six days a week, every day, for four years for a 12-second race and the fact that they just tore me apart, which is heartbreaking.
“They didn’t even do their research, calling me the Anna Kournikova of track. I have the American record. I am the American record holder indoors, I have two world indoor titles. Just because I don’t boast about these things, I don’t think I should be ripped apart by media. I laid it out there, fought hard for my country and it’s just a shame that I have to deal with so much backlash when I’m already so brokenhearted as it is.”
On Tuesday night, Jones tweeted that she had a “broken heart’' after missing an Olympic medal finish by one-tenth of a second. Her disappointment followed her performance in the 2008 Olympics, when she was leading the race and clipped the ninth of 10 hurdles to finish seventh. She took no solace that the Tuesday night race was the fastest one in Olympic history, with Australia’s Sally Pearson running an Olympic-record 12.35 seconds to edge American Dawn Harper by two-hundredths of a second to win.
“Definitely, I was crushed afterwards,’’ Jones said. “I know I had the best race of my season. Not the best race of my life, but I had the best race of my year, so I just try to look at that. It doesn’t take away from the pain that I was close to once again having a medal and not getting it.”
Jones tried to find the silver lining in reaching the Olympic finals after several setbacks in the past year.
“I think it’s disappointing in one extreme as in I didn’t get the medal, but in another extreme, a year ago I was having spinal cord surgery,’’ she said. “I mean if I look at that, spinal cord surgery, two hamstring injuries and you fought through all of that, so I take time to focus on that and not the negativity I’ve received.”
Jones has drawn criticism for her openness with the media about everything from her personal life to struggles with injuries. However, she hopes that her story will inspire others to overcome adversity.
“Putting your heart out there, obviously it opens you up to a lot of negativity, but at the same time if I could just reach somebody out there,’’ she said. “Maybe there’s a little girl who thinks she can be an Olympic athlete and she sees all the things I struggled through to get here. Yeah, I didn’t walk away with a medal or run away with a medal, but I think there’s lessons to be learned when you win and lessons to be learned when you lose.’’
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Everyone has a boiling point and I don't know that it was right to give all that attention to Lolo Jones the person and not Lolo Jones the athlete.
I guess I don't understand. If you want to stay focused, why would you even read or watch media coverage? If it were me, I would tell those close to me that I don't want to hear about any media coverage about me while I'm trying to focus on the competition. If you want to learn what was said about you after the fact, then whatever, but why expose yourself to negative stuff like this when you don't have to? It's her choice to read media reports in the papers, online, or whatever. Make the choice not to read it! No one is forcing her to read this stuff.
Seriously Lolo...get over it! The world is not all full of "rainbows and unicorns."
LoLo Jones....you are a winner!
Lolo Jones...you are a whiner
Yeah, that fourth place was really impressive.
I have said it before, "LoLo, shut mouth and run.".
I don't care about your "VeeJayJay" or your life's history.
You are not a big media personality.
You have nothing but a nice face and a virgin pooter.
Although I suppose that would give "Teen Mom's" a run for it's money....
Eener Wiggins and nobody cares about your lousy meaningless life. What have you ever accomplished? Except running your mouth!!
Lolo poses naked and calls herself a Christian - there are passages in the Bible that speak about "modesty". The media feasts on hypocrites, especially Christian hypocrites. Lolo you invited the publicity - now deal with it!
Yata-Hey you are a moron!!
Lolo naked, but not much seen, but what is seen would make many men want her for a night or two but not much more unless she moans as good as she wines...
The media is the problem and most of these left wing liberal nuts can't keep their fat mouth shut and are always downgrading someone. Lolo is a true American hero and deserves better. She made the Olympics and represented her country and everyone should be proud of her. Of course the liberal media are a bunch of cowards and have accomplished nothing in their life so they try to pick on others. Most of these idiots working for the media should find other employment and keep their mouth shut. Good job Lolo and forget about these liberal losers!!
you are terrific. people who ding you get short winded walking to the car, so don't let them bother you. i have admired you and continue to do so.
The NY Times is a commie rag. They hate this country.
It is people like Yata-Hey who should be locked up in a mental institution. Just another loser who has no life and wants to talk about others because their life is meaningless!
Rick, please put your guns away before you hurt somebody.
I blame the media for forcing Lolo at gunpoint to run in front of anything with a red blinking light and gushing like a broken fire hydrant. I also blame the media for forcing her at gunpoint to do every sponsorship thrown her way.
Lolo, welcome to the world of Republicans. The media is always ripping us to shreds. You either have to deal with it or start drinking the Kool-Aide like all the other thin-skinned whiners. Your choice.
Lolo is a lovely and talented young lady and I am proud that she represents the United States. She is the whole package. Looks. personality and talent.
She is lovely and I'd enjoy seeing more of her and her talents....
Typical. Play the Victim card now baby doll. Its the media's fault you suk. Good luck with that one....One more thing, please no more photo shots of you without ur clothes on. Made me sick to my fat stomach!
"Made me sick to my fat stomach!"....Well, that explains all we need to know about you...
I think it is disgusting that 2 top athletes are criticize for 1- Gabby praising
God when she won and 2- criticizing Lolo for being a virgin. It appears to me
that everyone else’s religions is ok but start praising God and you got a
problem. The USA was based on Christianity. It is written into the Constitution
and other documents. I respect your religion- RESPECT MINE. As far as Lolo
being a virgin- does everyone need to be a Kardashian whore? Make a sex DVD?
Change sex partners like changing clothes every day? Lolo is doing what she
feels right to her. EVERYONE HAS A CHOICE as to what to do with their sex-
either having intercourse or being gay or bisexual. THE CHOICE IS YOURS ALONE.
GET OFF BOTH of their ASSES!
Bravo, aquamarine, bravo!!
Most normal people could care less about other people's sexuality. Who really cares if you are a whore or a virgin. Again I ask why is being reported on.
Exactly right!
"You deserved it! Quit whining! Shouldn't have been a virgin!".....you people with your judgements.....much more disheartening than what happened to Lolo....
Texson55: you, mysay500 and Lolo Jones get together and be friends.
A nation is only as good as the citizens who reside in it. A nation can have the best laws and ideals and philosophies but if there is a populace who are determined to undermine those laws and find fault with its own citizens and terrorize its own populace then those laws are not in effect. The media are a bunch of jackasses and one has to realize that if one is in the public eye. The only thing I am doing for this nation is trying to survive and pay my dam share of the taxes. If you find fault with that that person can shove it. Even if I was talented enough to be in Olympics which I am not, it would be hard to do anything for an ungrateful nation. Yeah I said it and that is my opinion.
Lolo u were incredible. And I think the media sucks, especially in this climate that so many dont strive to do their very best, but sit back on their duffs making crude and rude comments about one of the most incredible athletes of all time. U are the best and I support you and pray for your comfort and peace knowing that God made u the best. And u achieve it daily. Thank you for all u have done for the Olympics! I salute You!
That's just funny, just like other @!$%#ty athletes, she finds an excuse to why she didn't medal. You didn't hear Phelps making excusing when we already knew he was better than his competition, he blamed himself and no one else.
And just like the French soccer team, they blamed the refs, Lolo blames the media. Grow up, you're supposed to a mature athlete, yet you cry when you make mistakes.
Kournakova won the Autralian Glam Slam in doubles tennis twice and was ranked No1 in doubles tennis at times....So hate to break it to you...she was and is a winner....just singles wasn't her forte. She and Martina Hingas used to kick everyone butts in doubles. so, there is no comparison with LoLo.....Once again the media slams Kournikova because she didn't excel in singles and they never mention her titles in doubles! Don't diss Kournikova in comparing her to NoNo!
Anna's body is also sexier even now even if she's not a virgin anymore and hopefully hasn't been for years as that would be a waste as it is now for Lolo to deprive mankind from her fruits before it withers away...
Live by the sword, die by the sword. If you want to be a media whore then you have to take your lumps, too.
Hopefully she can soon swallow and mount several swords....and get past the pent up frustration of virginity.
Lolo Jones, you are a winner in my book
I don't know of any media outlets that were "ripping" Lolo... As she stated in the interview, she has indoor titles - so the expectations were high for her to bring home an Olympic medal...
I guess the lack of success on the ground will always be blamed on the air waves... ;-)
Since when does ANYONE: "A"- THINK FOR A SECOND THAT THE NEW YORK TIMES IS PRO USA???? (they have made it intellectually popular to hate America). and B-Since when does anyone believe the NEW YORK TIMES? You would need to be a fool.