Marion Jones-Thompson

Marion Jones is best known for her accomplishment of becoming the first woman to win five track-and-field medals at a single Olympics at the 2000 Olympic Games. In addition, Jones was a former professional basketball player for the Tulsa Shock in the WNBA. An African-American and Belizean mix, Jones holds dual citizenship with the United States and Belize. Dominating her Californian high school athletic program on both the tracks and the basketball court, she went on to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and married one of her former track coaches there (after his resignation) in 1998. That same year, Jones won four gold medals, two at the Continental Cup in Johannesburg and two at the Goodwill Games in Uniondale. In addition, she has won two gold medals for the 1997 World Championships in Athens and one in the 1999 World Championships in Seville, competing at the 100 meters, 200 meters, and long jump. Although disqualified from several competitions in 2000 and 2001 due to doping, Jones took full responsibility for her actions, pleading guilty to the case, and has become a stronger person because of it. We can all learn from Jones past mistakes and look up to her for her accomplishments despite them.