Lolo Jones facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Lolo Jones
OLY

Jones at the 2008 Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa
Personal information
Birth name	Lori Susan Jones
Nickname(s)	Lolo
Nationality	American
Born	(1982-08-05) August 5, 1982 (age 42) Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
Height	5 ft 9 in
Weight	135 pounds (61 kg)–160 pounds (73 kg)
Sport
Sport	Track and field, bobsleigh
Event(s)	100 m hurdles, two-woman
College team	Louisiana State University
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	100 m 11.24 (Stuttgart 2006) 100 m hurdles 12.43 (2008 Olympic Games)
Medal record Women's athletics Representing the  United States World Indoor Championships Gold 2008 Valencia 60 m hurdles Gold 2010 Doha 60 m hurdles IAAF World Athletics Final Gold 2008 Stuttgart 100 m hurdles NACAC Championships Gold 2015 Costa Rica 100 m hurdles Women's bobsleigh Representing  United States World Championships Gold 2013 St. Moritz Mixed team Gold 2021 Alternberg Two-woman

Lori Susan "Lolo" Jones (born August 5, 1982) is an amazing American athlete. She is known for competing in two different sports at the highest level: hurdling in track and field, and bobsledding. Lolo has won many awards, including three NCAA titles and several gold medals at the World Indoor Championships.

She is one of the few athletes who has competed in both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. Besides her sports career, Lolo has also appeared on popular TV shows like Dancing with the Stars and Celebrity Big Brother.

Early Life and Athletic Dreams

Lolo Jones was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on August 5, 1982. Growing up, her family moved often, and her mother worked hard to support them. Lolo found her passion for running early on.

Finding Her Path in High School

When her family planned another move, Lolo realized she needed to stay where she could train. She decided to live with different families in Des Moines so she could attend Theodore Roosevelt High School. There, she continued to chase her dream of becoming a track athlete.

Lolo was a great student and even played the cello in the school orchestra. She set a record in the 100-meter hurdles at the Iowa state track meet. This showed everyone how talented she was.

College Track and Field Journey

After high school, Lolo went to Louisiana State University (LSU). She joined LSU's track team, following in the footsteps of her role model, Kim Carson, who was also a successful hurdler from LSU.

Achieving Success at LSU

At LSU, Lolo became a champion. In 2003, she won the 60-meter hurdles at the NCAA Indoor Championships. She also helped her team win the 4×100-meter relay at the 2003 NCAA Outdoor Championships. By the end of her college career, Lolo was an 11-time All-American and a 6-time SEC champion. She is still one of the top athletes in LSU's history for both 60-meter and 100-meter hurdles.

After college, Lolo faced challenges. She had to decide between focusing on track or getting a regular job. She chose track, even working part-time jobs at places like Home Depot to make ends meet.

Professional Track and Field Career

Lolo Jones started her professional career in 2004. She quickly showed her talent, finishing second in her first professional race in Stuttgart. In 2006, she ran her personal best time of 12.56 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles.

Winning National and World Titles

In 2007, Lolo won her first national championship in the 60-meter hurdles. She continued to win races in Europe and earned a spot on the U.S. Team for the World Championships in Japan.

Jones at the 2008 Bislett Games

The 2008 season was a big one for Lolo. She won her second national championship and then her first world championship in the 60-meter hurdles in Spain.

Olympic Challenges and Comebacks

At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Lolo was expected to win the 100-meter hurdles. However, she tripped on one of the last hurdles, finishing seventh. This was a very tough moment for her. She later found out a health issue affected her ability to feel her feet, which contributed to the stumble. After treatment, she recovered.

In 2009, Lolo continued to compete, winning races in Europe. Despite some injuries, she ran one of the fastest times of the season.

Jones during 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Doha

In 2010, Lolo defended her 60m hurdles Indoor World Title in Doha, setting a new American record with a time of 7.72 seconds. She also won several Diamond League events.

London Olympics and Beyond

Lolo qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She ran well, winning her heat and making it to the finals. In the final race, she finished fourth in the 100-meter hurdles.

In 2015, Lolo won the NACAC Championships in Costa Rica, adding another gold medal to her collection. She returned to outdoor competition in 2020, winning both the 100-meter hurdles and 100-meter dash events.

Setting a Masters World Record

In 2023, at 40 years old, Lolo set a new Masters world record for women aged 40 and over in the 60-meter hurdles. She ran 8.38 seconds in the preliminary round and then improved her own record to 8.35 seconds in the finals. This shows her incredible dedication and talent even after many years of competing.

Bobsledding Career

Lolo Jones decided to try bobsledding after the 2008 Olympics. She was invited to join the U.S. national bobsled team in 2012. This meant she had to gain weight to be a strong brakewoman, who helps push the sled at the start.

World Championships and Winter Olympics

In January 2013, Lolo won a gold medal in the team event at the FIBT World Championships in Switzerland. This was a big achievement in her new sport.

She was then chosen for the U.S. bobsled team for the 2014 Sochi Olympics. This made her one of the few athletes to compete in both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. Her team finished eleventh in the two-woman bobsled event.

In February 2021, Lolo Jones and her teammate Kaillie Humphries won the two-woman bobsleigh world championship. This was another major gold medal for Lolo in bobsledding.

Personal Life and Contributions

Lolo Jones was named Lori at birth, but her family called her "Lolo" to tell her apart from her mother, also named Lori. She has a diverse background, with French, African-American, Native American, and Norwegian roots. Lolo is a Christian and often talks about her faith.

She lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and is sponsored by companies like Asics and Red Bull.

Giving Back to Her Community

Lolo is very generous. When she visits her hometown of Des Moines, Iowa, she often gives back to her old high school, Roosevelt High. She has donated new running shoes to the track team and money for equipment and track repairs.

In 2008, Lolo donated her $4,000 prize money from winning the Olympic trials to a single mother affected by a flood in Iowa. Companies like Asics and Oakley matched her donation, making the total $12,000 to help flood victims.

In the Media Spotlight

Beyond sports, Lolo Jones has appeared in various media. In 2012, she was on the cover of Outside magazine. She has also been a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Lolo has acted in films, including the 2014 remake of Left Behind. She has also been a contestant on popular reality TV shows like Dancing with the Stars and Celebrity Big Brother. She also competed on The Challenge.

Lolo is very popular on social media, especially Twitter, where she is the most followed U.S. track and field athlete.

Achievements and Records

Lolo Jones has achieved many great things in her career. Here are some of her best performances:

Personal Best Times

Competition Results in Track and Field

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Result
Representing the  United States
2004	NACAC U-23 Championships	Sherbrooke, Canada	1st	100 m hurdles	13.05 (wind: +0.0 m/s)
			2nd	4 × 100 m relay	43.63
2006	World Athletics Final	Stuttgart, Germany	5th	100 m dash	11.24 (wind: -0.2 m/s)
			6th	100 m hurdles	12.76 (wind: +0.6 m/s)
2007	2007 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships	Indianapolis, USA	3rd	100 m hurdles	12.79
	World Championships	Osaka, Japan	6th	100 m hurdles	12.62 (wind: -0.1 m/s)
2008	World Indoor Championships	Valencia, Spain	1st	60 m hurdles	7.80
	IAAF Golden League	Weltklasse Zürich, Switzerland	1st	100 m hurdles	12.56
	2008 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)	Eugene, Oregon, USA	1st	100 m hurdles	12.29 (wind: +3.8 m/s )
	Olympic Games	Beijing, China	7th	100 m hurdles	12.72 (wind: +0.1 m/s)
	World Athletics Final	Stuttgart, Germany	1st	100 m hurdles	12.56 (wind: +0.3 m/s)
2010	World Indoor Championships	Doha, Qatar	1st	60 m hurdles	7.72
	2010 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships	Des Moines, Iowa, USA	1st	100 m hurdles	12.69 (wind: -2.1 m/s )
	Diamond League	Doha, Qatar	1st	100 m hurdles	12.63
	Diamond League	Oslo, Norway	1st	100 m hurdles	12.66
	Diamond League	New York, USA	1st	100 m hurdles	12.55
	IAAF Continental Cup	Split, Croatia	2nd	100 m hurdles	12.66
2012	2012 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)	Eugene, Oregon, USA	3rd	100 m hurdles	12.86
	Olympic Games	London, United Kingdom	4th	100 m hurdles	12.58 (wind: -0.2 m/s)
2014	2014 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships	Sacramento, California, USA	3rd	100 m hurdles	12.65 (wind: -1.6 m/s)
2015	NACAC Championships	San José, Costa Rica	1st	100 m hurdles	12.63 w (wind: +4.1 m/s)

Competition Results in Bobsledding

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Result
Representing Team  United States
2012	2012–13 Bobsleigh World Cup	Lake Placid	2nd	Two-woman	1:55.33
2013	2012–13 Bobsleigh World Cup	Igls	3rd	Team Competition	3:37.34
	FIBT World Championships 2013	St.Moritz	1st	Two-woman	1:07.76
	2013–14 Bobsleigh World Cup	Park City	2nd	Two-woman	1:39.24
2014	2013–14 Bobsleigh World Cup	Winterberg	2nd	Two-woman	1:55.42
	2014 Winter Olympics	Sliding Center Sanki, Krasnaya Polyana	11th	Two-woman	3:53.97
2016	2016–17 Bobsleigh World Cup	Lake Placid	2nd	Two-woman	1:52.16
2017	2016–17 Bobsleigh World Cup	Igls	1st	Two-woman	1:46.14
	2016–17 Bobsleigh World Cup	Pyeongchang	2nd	Two-woman	1:43.80
	2017–18 Bobsleigh World Cup	Park City	3rd	Two-woman	1:40.99
2018	2017–18 Bobsleigh World Cup	St.Moritz	1st	Two-woman	2:15.27
2021	2020–21 Bobsleigh World Cup	Igls	1st	Two-woman	1:47.07
	2021 IBSF World Championships	Altenberg	1st	Two-woman	3:48.26

Film and Television Appearances

Lolo Jones has appeared in various films and television shows.

Films Featuring Lolo

Television Shows with Lolo

See also

In Spanish: Lolo Jones para niños