|
 |   |
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
Uncharted territory Jones: 'I want to win five golds'
Posted: Thursday March 16, 2000 01:09 PM
By Ken Klavon, CNNSI.com Five gold medals? If anyone can do it, Marion Jones can. This September in Sydney, Jones will attempt an unprecedented Olympic sweep in five events: gold medals in the 100 meters, 200 meters, long jump, 4x100 relay and 4x400 relay. "I'm going to Sydney entered in five events," Jones tells CNN/Sports Illustrated. "I want to win five golds." Jones was a two-sport star at the University of North Carolina, where as starting point guard she helped the women's basketball team win the 1994 national championship, averaging 14.2 points per game. Since '97 she has been No. 1 in the world in the 100 meters. She also was No. 1 in the 200 in '97 and '98. (An injury at last year's world championships in Seville, Spain, forced her to miss the 200-meter race.) What's more, in 1998 she became the first U.S. woman to be ranked No. 1 simultaneously in three different events: the 100, 200 and the long jump.
Inside the numbers, unparalleled consistency has been her trademark. In '98 alone Jones broke the 11-second mark in 20 of 21 100-meter races -- finishing in under 10.80 in 11 of those. Likewise she broke 22 seconds in four of seven 200-meter races. She was so dominant in '98 that she finished second just once in 37 consecutive sprint/jump events. Last year Jones concentrated on training for the world championships. She participated in several long-sprint events, easily winning the 400 meters at the Mt. San Antonio College Relays, and leading the Nike International team to victory in the 4x200 at the Penn Relays.
She intimidates opponents with her diverse ability. Last April, for instance, when Jones decided to take a crack at the 400, No. 1-ranked Falitat Ogunkoya of Nigeria and several other top quarter-milers backed out of the race. Injuries have been a stumbling block. Jones twice broke her foot in '95, knocking her out of the running for the '96 Games. And while attempting to win four golds at last year's worlds, Jones exited early with back spasms. Her season was finished. She took home a gold and bronze medal, but also a heart full of disappointment. "I've learned to listen to my body more," she says, dismissing the notion that she may be vulnerable to injury. Jones is expected to be a heavy medal favorite at the Olympics, which will be
her first. "She doesn't have to worry about winning gold medals," says
Joyner-Kersee. "She just has to let it
happen."
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
