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

Before appearing in Season 3 of Fox’s Special Forces: The World’s Toughest Test, Marion Jones he fought a lot of 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 his medals after he admitted lying about taking performance-enhancing drugs.

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

During an exclusive interview with My Weekly before special units premiere, Jones said the show gave her a chance to “reevaluate the intensity level” of her Olympic past.

“I think the general public sees us excel in a small window, but you don’t know that we’ve been at this level since we were 3, 4, 5 years old until our sport ended,” Jones said of her special units castmates. “And when you’re removed from that for whatever reason and you start living, there’s always something, at least for me, like, ‘Oh, there’s something more.’ I need to challenge myself somehow.’

She added: “I was definitely satisfied with the experience.”

special units soldier Rudy Reyes exclusively speaking My Weekly that he viewed Jones’ appearance on the show as an attempt to rewrite her public narrative.

“She was the fastest woman on the planet,” Reyes said. “I really, really admired her work, her speed and her training. She held many world records. And then she was hit with doping charges and she really became the scapegoat and the scapegoat and ended up going to jail.”

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

To know all about Marion Jones, keep reading.

Marion Jones was a two-sport athlete in college

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

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

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

Marion Jones lied for years about using performance-enhancing drugs

In December 2004 Victor Contefounder 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 with ABC. 20/20.

Jones denied the allegations for years before finally admitting under oath in October 2007 that he had lied to federal agents.

At the 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 you have every 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 in which documents showed a $25,000 check was deposited into Jones’ bank account. Jones eventually admitted that she knew about the scheme.

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

Marion Jones was married twice

Jones married a bowler CJ Hunter in 1998 after the pair met while Jones was a student-athlete and Hunter was a coach at North Carolina.

At the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, Hunter suddenly 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 separation, Hunter testified to a grand jury in 2004, saying Jones’ steroid use began long before the Sydney Games.

Jones publicly admitted to drug use years later.

Hunter died in 2021 at the age of 52.

In February 2007, Jones married a 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 an 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 surpass what you thought was possible by developing the discipline and mindset to start winning in every area of ​​your life.” .

During an interview with ABC’s Robin Roberts in July 2024, Jones said she wanted 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 end up saying, ‘You know what? Yeah, she’s been through some things,” Jones said. “A lot of it (is) because of her own decisions. But she didn’t stay there and let it all consume her in the end.’