Olympics Success Stories

Olympians Who Overcame the Odds

The next time you face an overwhelming fitness setback, call to mind these athletes for inspiration

By Mary Squillace fitbie

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Olympians Who Overcame the Odds // Lolo Jones c Corbis Images

Image: Corbis Images

Lolo Jones (2008, 2012)

Track and Field, 100m hurdles, USA
When Lolo Jones was a child her mother worked multiple jobs to support the family while her father was in prison. The family survived on food stamps and even lived in the basement of the local Salvation Army at one point. Despite her rough upbringing, Jones excelled in track through high school and college and eventually landed a spot in Beijing games. At the Olympics Jones led the finals--a race she was favored to win--until taking a devastating spill on the second-to-last hurdle. This year Jones will fight for redemption in London, having secured a spot on the team with her third-place Trials finish.

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