After Lolo Jones tearfully claimed on TODAY Wednesday that she was “ripped to shreds” in a recent New York Times piece, the Times’ public editor called the story “too harsh’’ in an article on Thursday.

Public editor Arthur S. Brisbane, who is the “readers’ representative” at the Times, wrote on Thursday that “in this particular case, I think the writer was particularly harsh, even unnecessarily so.’’ The piece on Aug. 3 by staff writer Jere Longman, “For Lolo Jones at the Olympics, Everything is Image,’’ argued that Jones is more sex appeal and media hype than substance.

In the story, Longman quotes the director of the International Centre for Olympic Studies comparing Jones to former tennis professional Anna Kournikova, who was known more for her good looks than anything she did on the court.

“This piece struck me as quite harsh and left me, along with others, wondering why the tone was so strong,’’ Brisbane wrote.

After finishing a disappointing fourth in the 100-meter hurdles on Tuesday, Jones addressed the Times story on TODAY Wednesday.

“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.”

Since the article appeared in the “In the Rings’’ section of the Times’ Olympic coverage, it was intended as an opinion piece and not a straight news story, according to Brisbane.

“One person’s harsh is another person’s tough minded,’’ the Times’ sports editor told Brisbane. “(Longman), while acknowledging Jones’s accomplishment and qualities of perseverance and candor, thinks this female athlete fell short.’’

Read More:

Tearful Lolo Jones: Media 'ripped me to shreds' before race
Lolo Jones on virginity talk: 'Maybe I should zip it' 
NBC Olympics: Harper, Wells take veiled shots at Lolo Jones  Lolo Jones: 'When will I meet man of my dreams?'
Lolo Jones is staying a virgin until marriage 
Lolo Jones' post-workout shake

Getty Images file

Lochte, at the 2011 Golden Goggles in Los Angeles.

While wearing shirts isn’t really his thing, Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte enjoys accessorizing the rest of his body in style.

Known for his rippled abs and posing shirtless on the covers of magazines like Vogue, Lochte told The New York Times that he owns 130 pairs of shoes. He has covered his teeth with sparkly grillz on the winner's podium and plans to wear a special red, white and blue version in London (Team USA's official roster hasn't been announced yet). He also designed his own winged set of star-spangled high-top sneakers.

twitter.com/ryanlochte

From Ryan's Twitter: "Got some new kicks for trials. Don't duplicate!! #swagismine"

So if this whole swimming thing doesn't float his boat, there's always a future at Fashion Week.

Lochte recently posted a photo of his custom-designed kicks on Twitter, writing “Don’t duplicate!! #swagismine.” Another pair, which he designed for one of his sponsors, Speedo, feature emerald rhinestones and will be sold in flip-flop form for $24.99.

“He wanted green, he wanted bling,’’ the director of marketing at Speedo told the Times. “He likes to make a statement when he walks onto that pool deck.”

The 27-year-old has also made headlines in the pool, of course, winning two gold and two bronze medals in Beijing in 2008 while setting a world record in the 200-meter backstroke. In the lead-up to London, his golden-boy surfer look has made him a magnet for photographers, and his rippled torso earned him status as the world’s No. 1 beach body from Men’s Health magazine.

“If someone’s zigging left, he’s zagging right,” the Speedo official told the Times. “He wants to stand out.”

More: Olympic hopeful Ryan Lochte to Vogue: 'I'm a coach's nightmare' 
Olympic hopeful moms on supporting star athletes: 'I love my job' 
Meet 'The Missile': Missy Franklin, 16, aims to 'make my country proud' 
Video: Olympic hopefuls say 'Thank you, Mom' 
Video: En garde! Matt and Al duel on the plaza