Lolo Jones
A tenacious athlete who battled back from Olympic heartbreak to conquer a second sport on the world's highest stage.
Born 1982 (age 44)·American hurdler and bobsledder·Birthday: August 5·Millennials
Biography
Lolo Jones's story is one of breathtaking speed and even more stunning resilience. She rose from a childhood of poverty, sometimes homeless, to become a collegiate sprinting powerhouse at LSU. On the track, she dominated the 60-meter hurdles indoors, claiming world titles. Her moment of global fame, however, came from agonizing defeat: at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she led the 100m hurdles final until clipping the second-to-last barrier, stumbling from gold to seventh place in a single stride. That public heartbreak defined her for years, but Jones refused to be defined by it. In an audacious second act, she taught herself the explosive start of bobsledding, making the U.S. Olympic team for the 2014 Sochi Winter Games as a push athlete. This made her one of only a handful of Americans to compete in both Summer and Winter Olympics. Her career, marked by candid talk about faith, virginity, and perseverance, transcends medals, showcasing an unwavering competitive spirit that simply would not quit.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Lolo was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Lolo Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Lolo's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won World Indoor Championship gold medals in the 60-meter hurdles in 2008 and 2010.
- Qualified for both the Summer (2008, 2012) and Winter (2014) Olympic Games, a rare dual-sport feat.
- Earned 11 All-American honors and three NCAA titles during her collegiate career at Louisiana State University.
- Won multiple U.S. national championships in both the 60m and 100m hurdles events.
Did You Know?
She lived in a church basement with her family for a period during her childhood in Des Moines, Iowa.
Jones is an outspoken Christian and has publicly discussed her commitment to celibacy until marriage.
She once worked as a substitute teacher to help support herself while training.
She set a then-world best in the 60m hurdles (7.72 seconds) in 2010.
“I've already experienced the worst thing that can happen in my sport. After that, everything else is a bonus.”
