Who is Marion Jones? Is she a liar or a role model? What is the true story? Marion Jones was born October 12, 1975. Jones was one of the fastest women on the planet. She was a role model for so many. She has a picture perfect smile- kind of like Tiger Woods for golf. She was the one everybody loved. She was the crowd favorite. Jones was a phenomenal athlete and her family moved several times while she was a little kid, so she could compete in junior high and high school teams and competitions/races. Jones also played basketball and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a basketball scholarship. While she was in college during 1995-1996, she stopped playing basketball for a little while to focus on her track career, but …show more content…
multiple injuries to her foot prevented her from focusing on track and trying out for the US Olympic team, so she went back to playing basketball in 1997. That year she was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament (Britannica). After she graduated from college, she focused more on track than basketball. She went to the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, and won three gold medals in the 100 meter sprint, 200 meter sprint, and the 4x400 meter relay, and two bronze medals in the 4x100 meter relay and long jump (Associated Press). At the 2001 World Championship she won gold medals in the 200 meters and the 4x100 meter relay and went undefeated the following year in 2001 (Britannica). Unfortunately for Jones, things began to change for the worse beginning in 2001. Partly due to her success, there was occasional talk/suspicion that Jones was using steroids, and in 2003 things changed for Jones completely in her track career. The Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative (BALCO) lab results led to allegations that Marion Jones used banned substances, but Jones denied the allegations because she had never failed a drug test at the time. “In 2006 she tested positive for a banned substance but was later cleared by a follow up test” (Britannica). However in 2007, Jones admitted to lying during the federal investigation, and she had, in fact, taken steroids (Britannica). This led to her records being erased and all of her medals taken away. She ended up spending six months in jail as further punishment. Once a crowd favorite, Marion Jones had to reevaluate her life and figure out how and why her reputation was ruined. being too trusting, surrounding herself with C.J Hunter and Trevor Graham, and lying to federal prosecutors were the main factors which led to Marion Jones’s demise from Olympic Champion to convicted felon. One thing that led to the demise of Marion Jones is that she trusted too many people because she thought that they were her family and would not try to harm her in a negative way.
She trusted multiple people throughout her career as a track runner, but the most trustable at the time was Tim Montgomery. Throughout much of Jones career, Jones unknowingly took performance enhancing drugs because of time Montgomery. Montgomery was a talented track and field sprinter, but was not as accomplished as Jones. Montgomery’s involvement has not been exactly identified, but his association with steroids perhaps caused Jones to be exposed also. Montgomery actually tested positive for use during the Sydney Olympics, but Jones still trusted him and maybe this was a dangerous decision because she thought he was not going to harm her in a negative …show more content…
way There were two people that played a big role in Marion Jones demise and being surrounded by the wrong group of people. The two bad people that Marion Jones should not have been surrounded by was Trevor Graham and C.J Hunter. These were the people she should not have trusted or should have been around at the time of her track career. Trevor Graham is a Jamaican-born former sprinter and athletics coach. Graham was Jones second boyfriend and also her track coach. Graham was also involved with steroids as well as Jones and was find using the steroids at the Sydney Olympics just as Jones did. He used Tetrahydrogestrinone. Trevor was later caught with the use of the steroids by BALCO in 2000. Trevor Graham, her coach was the one that gave her the steroid called “the clear” (Shipley). He told her that they were a nutritional supplement (flaxseed oil) that would help her body be healthier and specifically told her not to mention it to anyone (Shipley). Jones admitted that, “Red flags should have been raised in my head when he told me not to tell anyone about the supplement program” (Shipley). She trusted her coach because she had been training with him for a while, and never thought that he would do such a thing, but she was wrong and this cost her her career in track. Her coach is the one that gave her the drugs saying they were vitamins and would help her body get healthier(Shipley). She trusted her coach way too much and thought he would never harm her so she took the drugs. He was also involved with steroids and also involved with giving them to all of his athletes that he had trained during his training career. C.J Hunter was Marion Jones ex-boyfriend before Trevor Graham. They wed in 1998, but the marriage deteriorated after Sydney, where Jones' drive for Olympic gold was disrupted by news reports about Hunter's positive steroid tests. “The 330-pound Hunter had been among the favorites for a shot put gold medal in Sydney before his injury. Ranked No. 1 in the world last year after winning the world championship with a throw of 71-6, Hunter also was the bronze medalist at the 1997 world championships. He is a three-time U.S. champion and the 1995 world indoor silver medalist. He finished seventh at the 1996 Olympics”(Wilson). His personal best was 71’9”, (21,87m) thrown during a second place finish in the 2000 US Olympic Trials. A month later he was tested positive for the performance enhancing steroid Nandrolone at Bislett Games, which was revealed before he competed in the 2000 Summer Olympic Games(Wilson). Hunter passed the drug test that was given at the Olympic Trials(“Hunter”). HUnter was involved with steroids, just like Marion Jones. Hunter said, “ he personally injected Jones with banned substances(Williams. et. al. ).” He also said he saw Jones injected herself with the banned substance(Williams. et. al.). "Jones would inject herself in the front waist line area slightly underneath the skin. Graham instructed Jones to inject herself in this area. Initially, Hunter injected Jones because Jones did not want to inject herself in this location"(Williams. et. al. ). He insisted he had never used drugs during his years as a competitor, claiming that the positive steroid tests that ended his career prior to the Sydney Games occurred because he had taken a tainted nutritional supplement(Williams. et. al. ). One last thing that led to the demise of Marion jones was lying to federal investigators. The reason Marion Jones went to prison was not because she was taking performance enhancing drugs; she went to prison because she lied during a federal investigation about taking performance enhancing drugs. Marion Jones regretted lying to federal investigators because it affected her entire life in a negative way, and she had to find something else she liked because she couldn't do track anymore. Jones also trusted her lawyers. They were supposed to be the most trustworthy because they were supposed to support her on her court case and back her up. At a critical point in the case, rather than guiding her to make the right decision and tell the truth, Jones’ lawyers told her she could request a break to discuss items the judge was questioning. In a “30 for 30” video, it alluded to the fact that the lawyers were willing to help Jones lie. Ultimately, this did not help her; it led, instead, to her lying further as she was overwhelmed by a flow of questions (ESPN 30 for 30). Jones was found guilty for lying under federal prosecution and was sentenced to six months in prison (Britannica). Jones trusted too many people that she thought were going to support her and help her through this stage of her life; but instead, trusting those people cost her her entire career and reputation. Marion Jones thought that if she lied to federal investigators, they wouldnt figure out or know that she was lying. Being too trusting, surrounding herself with C.J Hunter and Trevor Graham, and lying to federal prosecutors were the main factors which led to Marion Jones’s demise from Olympic Champion to convicted felon.
Marion Jones said she didn’t want to take performance enhancing drugs during her career and never would(ESPN 30for30),but things change. She has made a bad decision but has gotten through and has done something positive to teach kids things so that they don't go down the path she went down at an early age. She has a program and a book. Her program is called Take a Break. This program teaches kids how to make the right decisions and think before making tough decisions(Jones).Her book is called On the Right Track. This book is about her story and what she went through in her entire life and how it impacted her as a human but also as a track star. Marion Jones just took a wrong step and trusted people too much, lied to federal investigation, and she was just surrounded by the wrong group of people. She has gotten through her sorrows and is living a new life but missing her favorite sport of all time, which was track. Jones’ story is written to not only to help people think about decisions and when and how to make the right decision. Her story shows how doing one simple thing can get people caught up in a very big mistake and can ruin a life forever. Marion Jones once said, “I recognize that by saying that I'm deeply sorry, it might not be enough and sufficient to address
the pain and the hurt that I have caused you. Therefore, I want to ask for your forgiveness for my actions, and I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me (Marion Jones).”
background and how she was brought up when she was younger. I know the history and
Imagine finding out your boyfriend is cheating on you with your best friend. Your best friend doesn’t tell you because she wants to save you from a heartbreak, but she wants you to forgive her for stabbing you in the back. You focus your negative energy into your work, only to be told you can’t accomplish anything on your own. Brooke Davis, a female character from One Tree Hill, and Blair Waldorf, a female character from Gossip Girl, are two women that went through these difficulties without giving up. Blair once said, “If you really want something, you don’t stop for anyone or anything until you get it.” Brooke and Blair go through many lessons throughout their life on the show, becoming positive role models for viewers. While Brooke Davis and Blair Waldorf live two completely different lifestyles, Brooke and Blair are both confident, forgiving, and resilient.
One of the opening points of the article acknowledges the health and safety repercussions of taking performance-enhancing drugs. The authors include this information to inform readers of the severity of the drugs involved and the situation as a whole. For example, in 1997 cyclist Erwan Mentheour tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO), which, “increases the number of red cells in the blood and thus an athlete’s endurance” (Begley and Brant 1). This initially sounds fairly harmless until the authors later explain that the drug “can turn blood the consistency of yogurt” and that “EPO has apparently killed at least 18 Dutch and Belgian cyclists since 1987” (4). Th...
Bessie Coleman, the child of a southern, African American family, had become one of the most widely know women and African Americans in history. "Brave Bessie", as she had become known for, encountered the double hardship of racial and gender prejudice in early 20th-century but, she conquered many challenges and became the first African American woman to acquire a pilot's license. She not only enthused crowds with her talents as a barnstormer, but she has become a great inspiration for the women and African Americans. Her being in the air threatened contemporary stereotypes. She also disputed segregation when she could by taking advantage her impact as a celebrity to make a change, no matter how little.
She unknowingly had consumed a performance-enhancing drug that was in her cold medication. Her medal was revoked as soon as the drug test results got back.3 While Andreea was caught, many others who intentionally "doped up" weren't. Many of the drugs or procedures out there, still can't be tested for, and more and more athletes are cheating. Most of the drugs and procedures have adverse long-term effects, some resulting in death. Drug tests are detrimental to the existence of the Olympics and need to be upheld at all costs.
Lance Armstrong’s doping scandal is one example that truly illustrates the negative consequences of defying integrity. The lawsuit against the Former American cyclist was originally filled by a former teammate. The ethical issue of using money from the U.S. postal service to unfairly associate it with a sophisticated doping program is what led this former athlete from hero to zero. Denial and disagreements between him and his people arose until he finally decided to confess his unmoral actions. Despite the confession, he was stripped of his record seven tour de France titles, and was banned for life by the United States Anti-Doping Agency. To make things worse, his “Livestrong” foundation’s vision was irreversibly destroyed. He compromised his integrity, preaching visions that were contrary to his actions, and as a consequence, people lost trust and respect in him. He ignored justice and prudence for financial aspirations, which ultimately led to not only losing all what ...
The Williams Sisters: double trouble on the tennis court, Gabby Douglas: 2 times Olympic Gold Medalist, and Lolo Jones: a fierce Olympic competitor in hurdles and now bobsledding are all present day athletes that have captivated headlines with their accomplishments through sports. The Civil Rights Movement altered everyday life for all African Americans and soon other minorities in America. The movement also changed the world of sports for African American legends to come as well. Previous accomplishments of African Americans in sports propelled Althea Gibson to make her mark in history. Althea would change the world of sports, impact future athletes to come, and leave her mark in history. Her athletic greatness would not only be bestowed on the tennis court, but golfy would receive its fair share of Althea’s greatness as well. None of her accomplishments would have been made possible without the Civil Rights Movement that allowed African Americans to enter the world of sports.
Throughout her career, many people have mistaken her candid remarks as hateful comments, and she has been labeled as being difficult and bombastic. Even though her critics argue that she is outspoken and lacks maturity as a sportsman, Hope Solo shows in her biography Hope Solo: A Memoir of Hope that she is an inspirational female athlete because she has risen above extreme adversity and continuously challenges herself to be the best. Hope Amelia Solo was born on the 30th of July 1981 in Richland, Washington. As a young child, she was a forward for a soccer team and showed amazing potential at a young age. She scored 109 goals while in this position and was peerless.
Human beings have always had a strong competitive nature, and many people have a inclination towards achieving fame and glory. Professional sporting events measure the great spirit, unique natural talents, and competitive nature of humans as they attempt to heroically represent the entire race. Often times humans search for the ultimate advantage in sports to put themselves above and beyond the other athletes. Unfortunately, some athletes turn to unnatural agents to supplement their own natural talents. They often ignore the side effects of the drugs and more importantly ignore the damage they do to how they are perceived and how people view the game. Athletes who use performance enhancing drugs, also known as PEDs, create a monstrous persona,
He begins with putting an emphasis towards a great coach and what he or she has to offer. He believes that a coach can have a huge impact on a child’s life. He adds that a coach can be a great role model for athletes and teach them beneficial life skills. Stallworth believes that a strong coach and a committed athlete can go a great distance together and can achieve more than imaginable. He states that there is so much to be learned and much of it is not offered in an actual classroom. Stallworth uses “teamwork, responsibility, perseverance, [and] accountability” as examples of life skills that are learned through athletics. Stallworth does agree with Ripley that school is needed for basic skills, however, Stallworth believes that sports offer numerous amounts of skills that will benefit the athletes in their current and future life. Another aspect of his article portrays that sports are more than about winning, they allow children to “step out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves.” Much of his writing explains what many people overlook when considering children and
With television and computer so common in today’s society, more and more people spend much time at home watching sport shows. Young children grow up with their heroes being famous athletes they see on TV everyday. These young children grow up wanting to be just like the people they have watched for years on television. Becoming a great athlete is a dream of many young people and also their parents. Because steroids have seemed to make it a lot easier for people to attain the goals they have set out to accomplish, many people have turned to the drugs to gain that goal. Without thinking about the physical side effects or the mental side effects that steroids can have on them, they are willing to risk all that to become bigger, stronger, or faster just to succeed in sports whether it be in junior high, high school, college or at the professional level.
Several track and field athletes all over the world have been known to use enhancement drugs over the years without testing positive, however, in recent times, more and more athletes are being tested positive for enhancement drug use due to the improvements of medical technology. In the book The dirtiest race in history: Ben Johnson, Carl Lewis and the 1988 Olympic 100 final, Richard Moore stated that all of the top five athletes in the 100 meter final were using enhancement drugs, but only one athlete was stripped of his medal. This brings us to the question; do enhancement drugs help an athlete? Enhancement drugs cause negative effect physically, emotionally and socially, hence the percentages of doping victims are still increasing.
It is amazing what athletes will do to achieve higher levels of performance and to sometimes get the extra edge on the competition. Most of the time people do not realize the long-term effects that result from the decisions they make early in life. This resembles the use of steroids in a person’s life.
Oprah Winfrey was born on January 29, 1954. (“Oprah Winfrey Biography”). Oprah had a rough childhood (“Oprah Winfrey Biography”). She constantly moved from her mother’s house to her father’s house (“Oprah Winfrey Biography”). When Oprah lived with her mother she was raped (Lies, 2011). When Oprah lived with her father, she excelled (“Oprah Winfrey Biography”). Oprah’s rough childhood and thriving high school and college years definitely influenced her contributions to the world later showing ethical leadership (“Oprah Winfrey Biography”).
Drug use has led to an increased number of deaths and suspensions of athletes. Also, if this continues, all athletes someday will have to choose whether to compete at a world-class level and take drugs, or compete at a club level and be clean. In sports, athletes, coaches and trainers will try their best to find a way to reach the top level. They not only search for a way to enhance performance, but most of them have aspiring Olympians to train.... ...