Hurdler Lolo Jones on critics: “They just ripped me to shreds”
Hurdler Lolo Jones is upset with the media criticism she received before even competing. (Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Lolo Jones narrowly missed a medal with her fourth-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles on Tuesday, and Jones emotionally spoke out against her critics in an interview with the TODAY Show on Wednesday.
A recent New York Times’ story compared her to tennis player Anna Kournikova. The story’s premise was that the media attention on Jones stemmed from her looks, not her accomplishments on the track.
Jones, who was leading when she hit the second-to-last hurdle at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, struck back against the article.
“I think it was crazy, just because it was two days before I competed,” Jones said. “And then, the fact that (it’s) from a U.S. media (outlet). 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 work six days a week, every day for four years, for a 12-second race. The fact that they just tore me apart, it was just heartbreaking.
“They didn’t even do the research,” she continued.” Called me the Anna Kournikova of track. I have the American record. I am the American record holder indoors, 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, I fought hard for my country. It’s just a shame that I have to deal with so much backlash when I’m already so brokenhearted as it is.”
Jones was uncertain to make the U.S. Olympic team or, later, the Olympic final. She was not expected to contend for the gold medal.
maybe she should have spent her time boasting her in door record. or her indoor titles instead of making her name the "30 year old track virgin" just saying, you give us that as your story then you get pissed when people don't focus on your record?
Lolo Jones needs to stop ripping Anna Kournikova who was a top ten tennis player and a mulitple Grand Slam doubles champion. Anna was the youngest semi finalist in Wimbledon history and registered victories against most if not all the top players of her era. Anna's career was cut short by injuries.
@JonathanSmith She didn't rip Kournikova. She was referring to a comparison that was made...here is the reference from the article....
[“It reminds me of Anna Kournikova,” said Janice Forsyth, the director of the International Centre for Olympic Studies at the University of Western Ontario.
This was a reference to the former Russian tennis player whose looks received far more attention than her relatively meager skills.]
The media are unforgiving. I suspect people commenting here will be equally unforgiving as well.