History of Lolo Jones in Timeline

Lori Susan "Lolo" Jones is a renowned American athlete specializing in hurdles and bobsledding. She is a three-time NCAA champion and eleven-time All-American, showcasing her dominance in collegiate athletics. Notably, she secured national titles in the 60-meter hurdles from 2007 to 2009 and clinched gold medals at the World Indoor Championships in 2008 and 2010.

August 5, 1982: Birth of Lolo Jones

Lori Susan "Lolo" Jones was born on August 5, 1982.

2002: NCAA Championship Runner-Up

Lolo Jones was the runner-up in both the 100m hurdles and the 4x100m relay at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2002.

2003: NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championship Success

In 2003, Lolo Jones won the 60m hurdles at the NCAA Indoor Championships and was part of the winning 4x100m team at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

2004: Contemplating Retirement and Financial Struggles

After failing to qualify for the 2004 Athens Olympics and facing financial difficulties, Lolo Jones considered retiring from track. However, her coach encouraged her to continue, and she persevered despite having to work multiple part-time jobs to support herself.

2004: Disappointing Trials and Professional Debut

Following a disappointing finish at the 2004 US Olympic Trials, Lolo Jones made her professional debut with a second-place finish in Stuttgart.

2004: NCAA Championship and Career Highlights

Lolo Jones finished second in the 60m hurdles and 60m dash at the NCAA Indoor Championships in 2004. She then won the 100m hurdles title at the NCAA Mideast Region Championships, SEC Championships, and Penn Relays. She also won another national title as part of the winning 4x100m team at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. By the end of her LSU career, she was an 11-time All-American and a six-time SEC champion, ranking among the top three women all-time in both the 60m and 100m hurdles.

2005: Graduation from LSU

Lolo Jones graduated from Louisiana State University (LSU) in 2005.

2006: World Record in 60m Hurdles

At 40 years old, Lolo Jones set a new world record in the 60m hurdles at the Iowa Hawkeyes Invitational in 2006, surpassing Monica Pelligrinelli's previous record and qualifying for the finals.

2006: Successful Season and Top Rankings

Lolo Jones had a strong 2006 season, achieving a personal best time of 12.56 seconds in the 100m hurdles and securing victories at various events. She finished the year ranked fourth in the US and seventh globally in the 100m hurdles.

2006: Competing in Stuttgart

Lolo Jones participated in the 100m hurdles event in Stuttgart in 2006.

2007: National Championship and World Championship Appearance

In 2007, Lolo Jones won her first national championship in the 60m hurdles and competed in the World Championships in Osaka, finishing sixth in the 100m hurdles.

2007: First National Championship Win

Lolo Jones won her first national championship in the 60m hurdles at the USA Indoor Championships in 2007.

July 2008: Generosity and Support for Flood Victims

In July 2008, Lolo Jones showed her generosity by donating her prize money from the Olympic trials to a single mother affected by the Iowa flood, further amplifying the donation with the help of her sponsors.

2008: Disappointment and Transition to Bobsledding

Following a disappointing 2008 Olympics, Lolo Jones, inspired by Elana Meyers, transitioned to bobsledding.

2008: Spinal Problem Revealed

Following her Olympic disappointment, Lolo Jones revealed in the ESPN documentary "Lolo" that she had been competing with a severe spinal problem that affected her feeling in her feet. Her doctor attributed her stumble at the Olympics to this condition, which was later surgically corrected.

2008: Outdoor Season Opener

Lolo Jones began her 2008 outdoor season with a victory and a stadium record at the LSU Alumni Gold meet in Baton Rouge.

2008: Olympic Heartbreak

Lolo Jones entered the 2008 Beijing Olympics as the favorite in the 100m hurdles but tripped on the penultimate hurdle while leading the race, ultimately finishing seventh. The devastating loss left her visibly emotional and searching for answers.

2008: Mental Health Challenges

Lolo Jones shared her struggles with mental health, revealing her diagnosis with PTSD and battles with passive suicidal thoughts following the 2008 Olympics.

2008: Indoor Success and World Championship Title

Lolo Jones started 2008 with strong performances in indoor meets, setting a personal best in the 60m hurdles and winning the US Indoor Championship. She then achieved her first world championship title by winning the 60m hurdles at the World Indoor Championships in Valencia.

2008: World Indoor Championship and Olympic Disappointment

Lolo Jones won gold at the World Indoor Championship in the 60m hurdles in 2008. However, she experienced a heartbreaking setback at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, clipping the penultimate hurdle in the 100m hurdles final and finishing seventh despite being the favorite.

October 2009: ESPN The Body Issue Feature

Lolo Jones posed nude for ESPN the Magazine's The Body Issue in October 2009.

2009: European Circuit Challenges and Injury

In 2009, Lolo Jones faced tough competition in the European circuit, placing third in multiple races. She achieved her season's second-fastest time but suffered a hamstring injury, sidelining her for the rest of the season.

2009: Mixed Results and Return to Form

Lolo Jones began 2009 with impressive indoor performances, securing victories in Europe and winning the US Indoor title. However, a hamstring injury impacted her outdoor season, and she missed out on the World Championships. Despite setbacks, she ended the season on a high note, achieving a world-leading time in the 100m hurdles in Rethymno.

2009: Indoor Success and Injury Setback

Lolo Jones started 2009 strong with victories in the 60m hurdles at indoor meets in Europe and the US National Indoor title. However, a hamstring injury at the Drake Relays hampered her training, and she collided with another hurdler in the US Outdoor Championships, missing a chance to compete at the World Championships.

2010: Second World Indoor Championship Gold

Lolo Jones secured her second gold medal in the 60m hurdles at the World Indoor Championships in 2010.

2011: Return to Racing and Setbacks

Lolo Jones returned to racing in 2011 at the Aviva International match but faced hurdles, finishing fourth. She achieved a close third-place finish in Stuttgart but had to withdraw from the indoor season due to injury and illness.

June 23, 2012: Olympic Trials Success

Lolo Jones secured a spot on the 2012 Summer Olympics team by finishing third in the 100 m hurdles at the U.S. Olympics trials on June 23, 2012.

June 25, 2012: Guest Appearance on The Tonight Show

Lolo Jones appeared as a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on June 25, 2012.

August 4, 2012: Lolo Jones Criticized for Media Attention

On August 4, 2012, Jeré Longman from The New York Times criticized the media attention Lolo Jones received, claiming it stemmed from her looks rather than her achievements. This sparked comparisons to Anna Kournikova. Jones refuted the criticism, highlighting her accomplishments, including two world indoor titles.

October 2012: Joining the US Bobsled Team

Lolo Jones joined the US national bobsled team in October 2012 after being invited to try out for the team following her success as a track and field Olympian.

November 9, 2012: Bobsledding World Cup Debut

Lolo Jones, alongside Jazmine Fenlator, secured second place in her first-ever World Cup bobsledding competition on November 9, 2012.

2012: Personal Revelations on Real Sports

In 2012, Lolo Jones openly discussed her personal life, including her virginity and struggles with dating, in an interview on HBO's Real Sports.

2012: Outside Magazine Cover

Lolo Jones graced the cover of Outside magazine in 2012.

January 27, 2013: World Championship Gold

Lolo Jones achieved a gold medal win in the team event at the FIBT World Championships in St. Moritz on January 27, 2013.

May 2013: Victory in Tokyo

In May 2013, Lolo Jones secured her first win of the season at the Seiko Golden Grand Prix in Tokyo, clocking 12.92 seconds in the 100 m hurdles despite facing a headwind.

August 19, 2013: Left Behind Movie Casting

Lolo Jones joined the cast of the 2014 remake of the Left Behind movie series, announced on August 19, 2013, taking on the role of an airport gate attendant.

January 19, 2014: Selection for Sochi Olympics

On January 19, 2014, Lolo Jones was selected for the US bobsled team for the 2014 Sochi Olympics, serving as the brakewoman for the USA Team-3 sled.

February 19, 2014: Sochi Olympics Performance

Lolo Jones and her bobsled team finished tenth in the competition at the 2014 Sochi Olympics on February 19, 2014.

September 4, 2014: Dancing with the Stars Appearance

On September 4, 2014, Lolo Jones was announced as a participant in the 19th season of Dancing with the Stars, partnering with Keoikantse Motsepe.

2014: Lolo Jones' Bobsled Selection Sparks Debate

In 2014, Lolo Jones's selection to the US Olympic bobsled team drew criticism from fellow athletes who felt it was influenced by her fame. While some athletes like Curt Tomasevicz and Emily Azevedo expressed their disagreement, others like Elana Meyers and the federation CEO defended the decision based on performance data.

2014: Left Behind Movie Release

The Left Behind movie, featuring Lolo Jones, was released in 2014.

2015: Championship Success

Lolo Jones had a successful year in 2015, advancing to the finals at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and securing a win at the NACAC Championships in the women's 100 m hurdles.

July 13, 2016: Whose Line Is It Anyway? Appearance

Lolo Jones made a guest appearance on the improv comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway? on July 13, 2016.

2017: The Challenge: Champs vs. Pros

In 2017, Lolo Jones participated in MTV's The Challenge: Champs vs. Pros, using her platform to raise money for her charity, Hurdles of Hope.

January 2019: Celebrity Big Brother Appearance

Lolo Jones joined the cast of Celebrity Big Brother's second season in January 2019, making it to the final episode before being evicted.

March 7, 2020: Return to Outdoor Racing

On March 7, 2020, Lolo Jones marked her return to outdoor racing after a three-year hiatus at the Mississippi College Season Opener. She won both the 100 Meters Hurdles and the 100 Meters Dash finals.

2020: The Challenge Season 36

Lolo Jones joined the cast of The Challenge's 36th season in 2020 but decided to leave the show early to focus on her Olympic preparations, later expressing her dissatisfaction with how her departure was depicted.

February 2021: World Championship Victory

Lolo Jones and Kaillie Humphries achieved a significant victory, winning the two-woman bobsleigh world championship in February 2021.

2024: Olympic Trials Qualification

Lolo Jones secured her place in the 100 m hurdles at the 2024 US Olympic Trials, marking a significant return 12 years after her last appearance in the event.