Marion Jones facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Marion Jones

Marion Jones in April 2024
Personal information
Born	(1975-10-12) October 12, 1975 (age 49) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Height	5 ft 10 in
Weight	150 lb
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Track and field
Event(s)	100 meters, 200 meters, long jump
Medal record Women's athletics Representing  United States World Championships Gold 1997 Athens 100 m Gold 1997 Athens 4x100 m relay Gold 1999 Seville 100 m Bronze 1999 Seville Long jump Continental Cup Gold 1998 Johannesburg 100 m Gold 1998 Johannesburg 200 m Goodwill Games Gold 1998 Uniondale 100 m Gold 1998 Uniondale 200 m

Marion Lois Jones (born October 12, 1975) is an American former world champion track-and-field athlete and professional basketball player. She was known for her amazing speed and long jump skills. Marion won many medals in major competitions. She earned three gold medals and two bronze medals at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. However, these Olympic medals were later removed because she did not follow all the rules for athletes.

Marion Jones was one of the most famous athletes linked to the BALCO scandal. This was a big sports issue involving many top athletes.

Before her track career, Marion played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels. Her team won the NCAA championship in 1994. Later, she played two seasons of professional basketball in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as a point guard for the Tulsa Shock.

Early Life and School

Marion Jones was born in Los Angeles on October 12, 1975. Her mother was from Belize, so Marion has dual citizenship with both the United States and Belize. When Marion was young, her parents separated. Her mother later married Ira Toler, who became a stay-at-home dad for Marion and her older half-brother, Albert Kelly.

When Ira Toler passed away in 1987, Marion found comfort in sports. She loved running, playing pickup basketball, and joining in whatever sports her brother Albert was doing. By age 15, she was already a top athlete in California high school sports, excelling in both track and basketball. Marion graduated from the University of North Carolina (UNC) in 1997.

Personal Journey

While at UNC, Marion Jones met and started dating C. J. Hunter, a track coach and shot putter. Hunter left his coaching job at UNC to follow university rules about coaches dating athletes. Marion and C. J. married in 1998. They trained together for the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics.

Before the 2000 Olympics, Marion hoped to win gold medals in all five of her events. During the Olympics, C. J. Hunter had issues with sports rules regarding substances. This caused problems for their marriage and for Marion's image as a clean athlete. They divorced in 2002.

In 2003, Marion had a son, Tim Montgomery Jr., with sprinter Tim Montgomery. She missed the 2003 World Championships because of her pregnancy. Tim Montgomery also faced issues with sports rules and was banned from competition.

In 2007, Marion married Barbadian sprinter Obadele Thompson. They had two children together. They divorced in 2017. Today, Marion lives in Austin, Texas, with her partner.

In 2010, Marion wrote a book called On the Right Track: From Olympic Downfall to Finding Forgiveness and the Strength to Overcome and Succeed. She now works as a public speaker, trainer, and coach. In 2024, she started Driven Performance, a program that helps people build resilience through coaching and fitness.

Sports Career Highlights

Track and Field Achievements

In high school, Marion Jones was an incredible sprinter. She won the CIF California State Meet in the 100-meter sprint four years in a row. She was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for track and field three times. She was also the Track and Field News "High School Athlete of the Year" in 1991 and 1992.

Marion was invited to the 1992 Olympic trials. She could have joined the 4 × 100 meter relay team as an alternate, but she decided not to. After winning more state sprint titles, she received a full scholarship to the University of North Carolina for basketball. She helped her team win the NCAA championship in her first year, 1994.

Marion Jones (far left) during the 1999 World Championships

Marion did very well in her first big international track competition. She won the 100-meter sprint at the 1997 World Championships in Athens. She also placed 10th in the long jump. At the 1999 World Championships, she aimed for four titles. She won gold in the 100 meters and a bronze in the long jump, but then got injured in the 200-meter race.

At the Sydney Olympics in 2000, Marion earned three gold medals (100-meter, 200-meter sprint, and 4 × 400 meter relay) and two bronze medals (long jump and 4 × 100 meter relay). However, as mentioned, these medals were later removed because she did not follow all the rules for athletes. Marion had strongly denied breaking any rules until her confession in 2007.

In 2001, Marion faced a tough challenge at the 2001 World Championships. Ukrainian Zhanna Pintusevich-Block beat her in the 100-meter sprint. This was Marion's first loss in that event in six years. However, Marion still won gold medals in both the 200-meter race and the 4x100-meter relay.

Marion described her experience at the 2004 Olympics as "extremely disappointing." She finished fifth in the long jump. In the women's 4x100-meter relay, her team did great in the early races but missed a baton pass in the final, finishing last. Marion promised that this would not be her last Olympic effort. In 2005, she said that winning a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics was still her main goal.

By July 2006, Marion seemed to be in top shape. She won the 100-meter sprint at Gaz de France with a time of 10.93 seconds. This was her fastest time in almost four years. A few days later, she improved her seasonal best time to 10.91 seconds at the Rome IIAF Golden League, but she lost to Jamaica's Sherone Simpson.

WNBA Basketball Career

In November 2009, Marion Jones began training with the San Antonio Silver Stars of the WNBA. She had played college basketball at the University of North Carolina, where her team won the national championship in 1994. Her No. 20 jersey is honored by the school and hangs in Carmichael Auditorium.

The Phoenix Mercury had selected her in the third round of the 2003 WNBA draft. On March 10, 2010, the Tulsa Shock announced that Marion, as a rookie, had signed to play with their team. She made her WNBA debut on May 15, 2010. On August 22, 2010, she started her first WNBA game and scored a career-high 15 points in a win against the Chicago Sky. In 47 WNBA games, Marion averaged 2.6 points and 1.3 rebounds per game. The Shock released her from the team on July 21, 2011.

Awards and Recognition

• World Athletics Awards
  • World Athlete of the Year (Women): 1997, 1998

Images for kids

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  Marion Jones in April 2024

See also

In Spanish: Marion Jones para niños