Hurdler turned bob sledder Lolo Jones admitted to HBO’s Real Sports, in an interview that will air Tuesday, that she only joined the U.S. bobsled team because she’s desperate for a medal.
“If I won a freakin’ medal - if I won any medal - I would not be a bobsledder,” she said. “Absolutely not. Are you kidding me? No. No!”
Jones, who was on her way to gold at the Beijing Games before tripping on the penultimate hurdle, has actually been pretty successful on the bobsled track. She finished second along with driver Jazmine Fenlator at her debut at an event in Lake Placid, and won gold in the mixed team event at the World Championships in St. Moritz.
“I’m so desperate. Desperate…" Jones added. “And you know the hard question will be is if I get a medal for bobsled, and I get a medal finally for track, which would I love more?”
Jones probably won’t have to worry about that question too much, since time is running out on her chance to win a summer medal after she finished fourth in London and will be edging toward 34 in Rio. But she’s already back training for the upcoming Diamond League season, so you never know.