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Lolo Jones is a 29-year-old Olympic track and field star who holds an American record for the 60-meter hurdles and is favored to win the 100-meter hurdles in London this summer. However, her athletic training isn't the biggest challenge in her life, she said on the TODAY Show. For her, remaining a virgin until marriage is much more difficult.
Jones, who was heavily favored to win the gold medal in the 100-meter hurdle event at the Beijing Olympics but tripped on the last hurdle and came in 7th, took to Twitter to discuss her virginal status, writing:
twitteroverload. Yes i’m a virgin. #1 reason why I’m single bc guys deuce out when I won’t put out. I do so to honor God & future husband.
She also spoke to journalist Mary Carillo about her struggle to remain a virgin until marriage and her impoverished childhood during an interview for HBO’s “Real Sports" on May 22. “It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. Harder than training for the Olympics, harder than graduating for college has been to stay a virgin before marriage,” Jones told Carillo. Suddenly, as Jones works to qualify for the U.S. 2012 Olympic team, most discussion of her revolves around her V-Card.
Jezebel’s Madeleine Davies criticized the media’s focus on Jones’ sex life, stating that Jones' lack of sexual partners is preventing people from recognizing her incredible skills:
Why are people harassing Jones, an incredible Olympic athlete, about her sex life to begin with? This old school mentality that a woman's sexuality is inherently intertwined with all of her accomplishments is tired … Worst still, it's a lose-lose. Had Jones had several sexual partners, GMA and the Today Show would still be drooling and gnashing their teeth over her, ignoring the main point: She, a woman who can run the 100m in less than 12 seconds, is headed to the Olympics in London where she is projected to win.
Watch the full interview on TODAY and let us know what you think in the comments! Will you be rooting for Jones this summer?