Marion Jones for “Special Forces”
foxBefore appearing in the third season of Fox Special Forces: The toughest test in the world, Marion Jones He fought many battles in the court of public opinion.
Jones, 49, won five medals – three gold and two bronze – at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, but was later stripped of his medals after admitting to lying about taking performance-enhancing drugs.
In addition to returning her medals, Jones was sentenced to six months in prison in 2008 for her role in the scandal.
During an exclusive interview with Us Weekly before special forces At the premiere, Jones said the show gave her the opportunity to “revisit the intensity level” of her Olympic past.
Denise Richards is keeping mum about her assignment in Special Forces: The World's Toughest Test for season 3, but she did shed some light on her journey. “It was the most challenging thing I've ever done, ever, ever,” Richards, 53, exclusively told Us Weekly on Sunday, December 1, while attending the Hollywood Christmas Parade in support of the Sea Toys for[…]
“I think the general public sees us as excelling in a small window, but you don't know that from the time we were 3, 4 or 5 years old until our sport was over, we were at this level.” He said about her and her special forces Co-workers. “And when you get taken out of it, for whatever reason, and life begins, there's always something, at least for me, that's like, ‘Oh, there's something more.’ I need to be challenged in some way.
She added: “There is no doubt that this experience satisfied me.”
special forces soldier Rudy Reyes He said exclusively Us Weekly that he viewed Jones' appearance on the show as an attempt to rewrite her public narrative.
“She was the fastest woman on the planet,” Reyes said. “I was really impressed with the work, her speed and her training. She had several world records. And then she was charged with doping, and she actually became a scapegoat and a sacrificial lamb and eventually went to prison.”
“I just love the comeback story,” Reyes added. This is truly quintessentially American. We always give someone another chance. And it was really great to see her there.
To learn all about Marion Jones, read on.
Marion Jones at the 2000 Olympics
Mike Powell/AllSport/Getty ImagesMarion Jones was a dual athlete in college
During her time at UNC, Jones was also a member of the women's basketball team as well as starred on the track and field team.
Jones was on the roster of the Tar Heel team that won the 1994 national title, and was a two-time All-ACC selection and Most Valuable Player of the 1997 ACC Tournament.
Following her track and field career, Jones played two seasons in the WNBA with the Tulsa Shock from 2010-2011.
Marion Jones lied about taking performance-enhancing drugs for years
In December 2004, Victor ConteThe founder of a company called BALCO said he gave Jones four different illegal performance-enhancing drugs before, during and after the 2000 Sydney Olympics during an ABC interview. 20/20.
Jones denied the allegations for years, before eventually admitting to lying to federal agents under oath in October 2007.
Special Forces: The World's Toughest Test is gearing up for an even more intense season in January 2025. Season 3 of the Fox reality series returns on Wednesday, January 8 with 16 new recruits including Stephen Baldwin, Denise Richards, former NFL star Cam Newton and two former Bachelorettes, Trista Sutter. And Ali Fedotovsky. “There is a famous person (…)
In a press conference, Jones issued an admission of guilt to the American people.
“It is with great shame that I stand before you and tell you that I betrayed your trust, and you have the right to be angry with me,” Jones said. “I let them down. I let my country down. And I let myself down.”
Marion Jones at the 2000 Olympics
Al Bello/Getty ImagesIn July 2006, Jones was also linked to a check counterfeiting scheme in which documents showed that a $25,000 check was deposited into Jones' bank account. Jones eventually pleaded guilty to knowing about the scheme.
Jones was sentenced to six months in prison in 2008 for her involvement in a check fraud case and her use of performance-enhancing drugs.
Marion Jones was married twice
Jones married a shot putter CJ Hunter In 1998 after the couple met when Jones was a student-athlete and Hunter was a coach at North Carolina State.
At the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, Hunter suddenly withdrew from the shot put competition, due to a knee injury. However, the International Olympic Committee announced shortly after that Hunter had failed four drug tests prior to the Olympics.
Marion Jones at the 2000 Olympics
Mike Powell/Getty ImagesThe couple divorced in 2002. After their split, Hunter testified before a grand jury in 2004 saying Jones' steroid use began long before the Sydney Games.
Jones would not publicly admit to using drugs until years later.
Hunter died in 2021 at the age of 52.
In February 2007, Jones married the Barbadian Olympian Obadele Thompson. Jones and Thompson had two children together before the couple divorced in 2017.
Jones also gave birth to a son with her ex-boyfriend. Tim Montgomery Jrin June 2003.
Mark Bellingham and Marion Jones in the movie “Special Forces”
foxMarion Jones now spends her time moving things forward
In 2024, Jones helped launch Driven Performance, which is “dedicated to helping you realize your potential, going beyond what you thought was possible by developing the discipline and mindset to start winning in every area of your life.”
During an interview with ABC Robin Roberts In July 2024, Jones said she wanted people to look at her life and “ultimately come to the conclusion that failure is not forever.”
“I hope when people finally see my story they say, ‘You know what? Yeah, she's been through some stuff,” Jones said. “A lot of it (is) because of her own choices. But she didn't stay there, and she didn't let it all consume her in the end.
