Sunday, August 19, 2012
Both were criticized at the London 2012 Olympics for “weird reasons.”
Gabby Douglas was the new kid on the block at the London 2012 Olympics, and more experienced athletes were looking out for her. When the two-time gold medal gymnast was criticized for her hair, of all things – presumably not an easy thing to control while hanging upside down or flying through the air with a power that earned her the “Flying Squirrel” moniker – one other Team USA member in particular bristled. But Douglas handled it just fine, said Olympic hurdler Lolo Jones, a Des Moines native who faced criticism for “weird reasons,” she said. Asked by a reporter at a news conference before a big welcome-home party Saturday what advice the more-experienced Olympian would give Douglas on handling the scrutiny, she said he had it backward…
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Iowans don’t seem eager to leave the London 2012 Olympics behind.
Thousands strong, Iowans filled a sports coliseum on the Drake University campus in Des Moines with their bodies, certainly, but also with their hearts at Saturday morning's warm welcome-home party for an all-star lineup of Olympic athletes. The crowd made it clear that these young athletes with Iowa ties firmly reside in the collective Iowa heart --,with admiration in every beat – for their drive and , their athletic prowess and their grace, in victory and in defeat. "They deserve this, right?” said Keith Murphy, the amiable sports director for WHO-TV, who emceed the welcome-home celebration. The crowd – about 3,500 strong – answered with thundering applause. The all-star lineup included two champions: Gabby Douglas, the West Des Moines-…
Several athletes and coaches with Iowa ties are expected to appear at a celebration of the London 2012 Olympics today at Drake University.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Several athletes and coaches with Iowa ties are expected to appear at a celebration of the London 2012 Olympics.
A star-studded roster of Olympic athletes and coaches with Iowa ties are expected to be on hand for a celebration of the London 2012 Olympics in Des Moines this weekend. Jake Varner, a gold medal winning Olympian who wrestled for Iowa State, and Lolo Jones, a hurdler from Des Moines, have now agreed to attend, according to an Associated Press report. They will join Gabby Douglas, the Virginia-native who trained in West Des Moines, and her coach Liang Chow; Shawn Johnson, who didn't make the 2012 Games, but won gold in 2008, is expected along with several others. Douglas, a 16-year-old gymnast, was one of the brightest stars of the Olympics, claiming two Olympic golds. The homecoming event will be held Saturday, Aug. 18 at 11 a.m. at the …
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
** Spoiler Alert ** Read on for results from Lolo Jones's track and field event today.
** Spoiler Alert ** Read on if you want to know Lolo Jones' results. Story begins below the line. ____________________ Sally Pearson just proved too tough in the 100-meter hurdles. The Australian World Champion won the gold medal with a new Olympic record time of 12:35. American Dawn Harper pushed her to win the silver medal and Kellie Wells won the bronze. After narrowly making her way through the semifinals, Lolo Jones failed to medal in the finals of the 100-meter hurdles Tuesday afternoon, finishing fourth behind the three favorites. Jones, 30, a Des Moines native, was a big star heading into the 2008 Olympics in China when one clipped hurdle prevented her from winning the gold. This year's Olympics in London was seen as her chance for…
** Spoiler Alert ** Read on for results from Lolo Jones's track and field event today.
** Spoiler Alert ** Read on if you want to know Lolo Jones' results. Story begins below the line. ___________________________________________ Update 1:34 p.m.: It appears that Lolo Jones is in to the finals by the narrowest of margins. Finals are at 3 p.m. Previous Coverage Lolo Jones' dream of winning a gold medal in this year's Olympics games may still be alive after this afternoon's performance in the semifinals of the 100-meter hurdles. If she qualifies with her time of 12.71 in the semifinals heat, the Des Moines native will be scheduled to run in the finals of the 100-meter hurdles at 3 p.m. today. NBC will be showing the races tonight during its 7 p.m. broadcast. Whether or not she makes it will depend on the times of the final …
Monday, August 6, 2012
See when Jones is scheduled to run on Tuesday.
Now that Iowan Lolo Jones has gotten past the first heat, it's time for the stakes to get even higher. Jones is scheduled to race the 100-meter hurdles in London at 1:15 p.m. Iowa time Tuesday for the semifinals, and if she passes that round, she will race at 3:00 p.m. the same day. For those who want to see it on television, it will likely be played during NBC's Prime Time Olympics segment starting at 7 Tuesday night. Jones, 30, a Des Moines native, breezed into her second day with a time just short of the fastest on the day.
Spoiler Alert -- Jones runs well in the first round and tries to console an emotional fellow hurdler.
Lolo Jones will live to hurdle another day. Jones, 30, won her heat in the 100-meter hurdles at roughly 4:00 a.m. Iowa time this morning. Jones finished with 12.68 seconds, just a little behind the fastest time of 12.57 pace set by world-champion Sally Pearson in another heat. The time qualifies the Des Moines native to run in the semifinals on Tuesday. Times for the semifinals and finals can be found here. After winning her heat, Jones tried to console Jamaica's Brigitte Foster-Hylton, who after running the second fastest time in the world this season, failed to qualify after tripping on a hurdle. She hit the fifth hurdle in her heat, veered toward the inside lane, got off stride and never recovered. She threw herself to the ground after…
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Some argue that the fame for Jones has exceeded her performance on the Olympic stage. Will she be able to prove them wrong?
You'd think it would be hard enough just trying to medal in the London 2012 Olympics. For Iowan Lolo Jones, 30, whose fame outranks many other athletes with more Olympic success, the stakes are even higher. There is a growing sentiment that the Des Moines native and former Louisana State University track star does not deserve the attention -- and endorsement deals -- she has received up to this point. As if to make this point, Jones' recent revelation that she is a virgin gained more attention than nearly anything else she had done involving hurdles or a track. For example of this criticism, see this post on the New York Times that declares that Jones is valued more for her sex appeal than her athletic exploits. Women have struggled for …
Thursday, August 2, 2012
The Olympics in London are well under way and there are some athletes with Iowa ties still alive. Here is a schedule if you want to watch Lolo Jones, Diane Nukuri-Johnson, Kineke Alexander.
The Olympics has been a mixed bag for Iowan competitors so far. Gabby Douglas, who has lived and trained in West Des Moines the last two years, recently secured a gold with the United States gymnastics team. She is prepared to compete for individual gold on Thursday. Two University of Iowa Hawkeye swimmers -- Heather Arseth, a current swimmer, and Dragos Agache, an alumni -- failed to medal after swimming for their respective countries. Another former Hawkeye swimmer who later transfered to the University of Florida, won a gold medal along with Michael Phelps and other teammates on the 4X200-meter relay. But what remains beyond that is the track and field events:
Isa O'Hara
9:29 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012
Very astute observation. I couldn't agree more. I think these folks who insist on criticizing people for petty reasons need to find a hobby....maybe two....I would suggest knitting or needlepoint, or perhaps the piano...music does tend to soothe the savage beast... more ›