Who is Marion Jones? Everything you need to know about the former Olympian

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Who is Marion Jones? Everything you need to know about the former Olympian

Marion Jones on ‘Special Forces’ FOX

Before appearing on season 3 of Fox’s Special Forces: The World’s Toughest Test, Marion Jones had fought many battles in the court of public opinion.

Jones, 49, won five medals – three gold and two bronze – at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, but was later stripped of the medals after admitting to lying about using performance-enhancing drugs.

In addition to having her medals returned, Jones was sentenced to six months in prison in 2008 for her role in the scandal.

During an exclusive interview with We weekly before the Special Forces During the premiere, Jones said the show gave her a chance to revisit “the intensity level” of her Olympic past.

“I think the general public sees us excelling in a small window, but you don’t know that from the time we were 3, 4, 5 years old until the time our sport ended, we have been at that level” , says Jones. said about her and her Special Forces cast mates. “And when you’re away from it for whatever reason, and you start life, there’s always something, at least for me, like, ‘Ah, there’s something else. I need to be challenged somehow. ”

She added: “No doubt this experience satisfied that for me.”

Special forces soldier Rudy Reyes told exclusively We weekly that he saw Jones’ appearance on the show as an attempt to rewrite her public narrative.

“She was the fastest woman in the world,” Reyes said. “I really admired the work, her speed and her training. She had many world records. And then she was indicted for doping, and she really became a scapegoat and a sacrificial lamb, and she ended up going to jail.”

Reyes added, “I just love a comeback story. That’s really typically American. We always give someone another chance. And it was really great to see her there.”

Keep reading for everything you need to know about Marion Jones.

Who is Marion Jones — Marion Jones at the 2000 Olympics Mike Powell/Allsport/Getty Images

Marion Jones was a dual sport athlete in college

During her time at the University of North Carolina, in addition to starring on the track and field team, Jones was also a member of the women’s basketball team.

Jones was on the roster of the 1994 Tar Heel team that won the national title, and was a two-time All-ACC selection and the Most Valuable Player of the 1997 ACC Tournament.

Following her athletic career, Jones played two seasons in the WNBA with the Tulsa Shock from 2010-2011.

Marion Jones lied for years about her performance-enhancing drug use

In December 2004 Victor Contethe founder of a company called BALCO, said he gave Jones four different illegal performance-enhancing drugs before, during and after the 2000 Sydney Olympics during an interview on ABC’s 20/20.

Jones denied the allegations for years before finally admitting to lying to federal agents under oath in October 2007.

During a press conference, Jones issued a mea culpa to the American public.

“It is with great shame that I stand before you and tell you that I have betrayed your trust and that you have a right to be angry with me,” Jones said. “I let them down. I have failed my country. And I let myself down.”

In July 2006, Jones was also linked to a check forgery scheme, with documents showing that a $25,000 check was deposited into Jones’ bank account. Jones ultimately pleaded guilty to her knowledge of the scheme.

Jones was sentenced to six months in prison in 2008 for her involvement in the check fraud case and her use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Marion Jones has been married twice

Jones married a shot putter CJ Hunter in 1998 after the couple met while Jones was a student-athlete and Hunter was coaching at North Carolina.

At the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, Hunter abruptly withdrew from the shot put competition, citing a knee injury. However, the International Olympic Committee announced shortly afterwards that Hunter had failed four pre-Olympic drug tests.

The couple divorced in 2002. After their divorce, Hunter gave testimony before a grand jury in 2004, saying Jones’ steroid use began long before the Sydney Games.

Jones would not publicly admit to drug use until years later.

Hunter died in 2021 at the age of 52.

In February 2007, Jones married the Barbadian Olympian Obadele Thompson. Jones and Thompson had two children together before the couple divorced in 2017.

Jones also gave birth to a son with ex-boyfriend, Tim Montgomery Jr.in June 2003.

Marion Jones now spends her time paying things forward

In 2024, Jones helped launch Driven Performance, which is “dedicated to helping you reach your potential and exceed what you thought possible by developing the discipline and mindset to start winning in every area of your life.”

During an interview with ABC Robin Roberts in July 2024, Jones said she wants people to look at her life and “ultimately come to the conclusion that failure is not forever.”

“I hope that when people see my story, they will eventually say, ‘You know what? Yeah, she’s been through some things,” Jones said. “A lot of it [is] because of her own choices. But she didn’t stay there, and she didn’t let all of this finally consume her.”