Marion Jones

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Marion Lois Jones (born October 12, 1975), also known as Marion Jones-Thompson, is a former world champion track and field athlete and a former professional basketball player for Tulsa Shock in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She won five medals at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, but was later stripped of her medals after admitting to steroid use.

Early Life and Education

Marion Jones was born in Los Angeles, California, and moved to Palmdale, California, in her childhood. She excelled in sports from a young age, particularly in track and field, but also played basketball in high school. Jones attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was a star on the women's basketball team and also competed in track and field.

Track and Field Career

Jones's track and field career was marked by remarkable achievements and controversies. She won three gold medals and two bronze medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, competing in events such as the 100 meters, 200 meters, and long jump. However, her accomplishments were overshadowed by her involvement in the BALCO steroids scandal. In 2007, Jones admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs before the Sydney Olympics and was subsequently stripped of her Olympic medals.

Basketball Career

After her disqualification from track and field, Jones pursued a career in professional basketball. She signed with the Tulsa Shock of the WNBA in 2010 and played for a season before retiring from basketball in 2011.

Personal Life

Jones has been married twice and has three children. Her first marriage was to shot putter C.J. Hunter, who also became embroiled in a doping scandal. She later married sprinter and long jumper Obadele Thompson, with whom she has children.

Legacy

Marion Jones's legacy is complex. While she was once celebrated as one of the greatest female athletes in the world, her admission of steroid use and the subsequent stripping of her Olympic medals tarnished her reputation. Her story is often cited in discussions about the pressures athletes face to perform at the highest levels and the consequences of doping in sports.

See Also

• 2000 Summer Olympics
• BALCO scandal
• Doping in sport
• Women's National Basketball Association