Lolo Jones (© Getty Images)
After what can be described as a very unlucky season hampered by a series of injuries, Lolo Jones takes a look at what awaits her next year especially her World Indoor title defense and the IAAF Diamond League. She also took time to pose naked for ESPN magazine’s body issue…
“Hi,
“It’s been quite a while since my last diary, but it has certainly been an incident packed past month or so.
“As you are aware, I did not qualify for the US team to make the World Athletics Championships in Berlin, but I was on hand in the German capital as a trackside reporter with Eurosport.
“I’ve got to say, I really enjoyed the experience and the adrenaline rush I received was pretty much the same as when I am competing on the track. It was just as challenging as athletics. I really had to think on my feet to come up with the next question and adapting to changing circumstances when the order of the medallists were not as expected. I can definitely see myself doing more interviewing in future and I got a real kick out of the whole experience, although my main priority is returning to the track so my next reporting assignment might have to be put on hold for a while.
“Sadly, as you may be aware, my season ended abruptly after I tore my hamstring in Zurich. It was the same injury I had suffered back in April and I’m still rehabbing from the problem. I hope to return to full training in the fall.
“The year has been a nightmare, but despite my injury problems I still ran 12.47 so I have to take some consolation from that.
“I now have to turn my attention to 2010, which is going to be another big year. It will be the first year of the Diamond League and I also hope to defend my 60m hurdles title at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Doha.
“I also have one other interesting piece of news – I posed naked for ESPN magazine!
“It was pretty cool and the whole shoot was done in a very tasteful and discreet way. The whole premise behind the shoot was not to create sex appeal, but to portray a strong, beautiful, athletic woman and I think we achieved that.
“I’m not very comfortable in those situations in fact I’m quite conservative. But the whole crew helped me through any unease, and I felt a lot more contented with the shoot when I thought of it as being just like a drug test.
“The photos were taken in the French Quarter of New Orleans, and we went for a look like a Greek statue. A whole number of other sports stars like the tennis player Serena Williams, American footballers and another athlete, the shot putter Michelle Carter will also appear in the Body Issue of the magazine which hits the newsstands on Friday. Look out for it.
"Until next time"
Lolo
