MARION JONES BLACK AMERICAN ACHIEVER Alyssa Bella Hernandez

JONES MARION JONES is an American athlete who became the first woman to win five track-and-field medals at a single Olympics.

Childhood Marion Jones was born on October 12, 1975 in Los Angeles, California. She was known as “Hard Nails” by the other children in the neighborhood because she was so tough and she was always competing with them. Marion played sports like tee ball, softball, basketball, and ran track. She also participated in gymnastics, and even took ballet and tap dancing lessons. Marion began competing in track-and-field events while in elementary school.

Family Life Marion Jones grew up with her mother, stepfather, and brother. She did not know her birth father since he left when she was a baby. Marion was always hanging around with her older brother, Albert, and doing whatever he did athletically. She met her husband, C.J. Hunter, in 1995 while training at the University of North Carolina.

Hardships When Marion was eleven years old, her stepfather, whom she was very close to, died due to a stroke. She was left without a father again. Marion’s mother had to work two jobs to support the family. The family moved three times in four years because Marion’s mother wanted Marion to be in the best public schools for academics and sports. In 1995 Marion broke her ankle during tryouts for the Olympics and couldn’t compete that year.

Education Marion Jones attended the University of North Carolina (UNC) on a full scholarship in 1993 due to her great athletic ability and excellent grades. She was interested in playing sports and in becoming a writer. She was named co-captain of the basketball team and earned All-America honors in track at UNC. She graduated in 1997.

Achievements National High School Player of the Year (Track) 1991, 1992, 1993 California High School Player of the Year (Basketball) 1993 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship 1994 NCAA Track and Field All-American 1994, 1995 NCAA Basketball All-American 1997 World 100 Meters Champion 1997 Track and Field Athlete of the Year 1997, 1998 National Long Jump Champion 1997, 1998 National 100 Meters Champion 1997, 1998

Achievements (continued) National 200 Meters Champion 1998 Goodwill Games Gold Medalist 1998 Jesse Owens Award Winner 1999 In the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, Marion Jones won three gold medals for the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4x400 relay. She won two bronze medals for the long jump and the 4x100 relay.

Resources Marion Jones. (2014). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 09:23,February 18, 2014, from jones jones Stewart, Mark. (1999). Marion Jones Sprinting Sensation. Grolier Publishing. Armentrout, Patricia and David. (2005). Discover the Life of a Sports Star Marion Jones. Rourke Publishing, LLC.