On International Olympic Day, June 23rd, 2025, while most athletes celebrated unity and excellence, Lolo Jones chose a different path.
In a bold Instragram post, Jones shared.
“I’m one of the few athletes who’s competed in both the Summer and Winter Olympics yet I’m currently not allowed inside any Olympic Training Center.”
It was a startling admission from a decorated athlete whose résumé includes representing the U.S. in track and field at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics in the 100m hurdles, followed by a successful transition to bobsledding where she competed in the two-woman event at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games.
The Incident Behind the Ban
According to Jones, it all stemmed from a severe injury and an ensuing dispute over medical care. In her post, she detailed how, just days before the World Championships, she suffered a debilitating spinal injury while testing new bobsleds for Team USA. The injury was serious, she lost bladder control, sustained a herniated disc, a disc bulge, and multiple tears in her back.
Desperate for immediate care, Jones says she was denied further medical treatment because she had already received the week’s allocated care. She confronted a medical staff member at the training center. The exchange escalated into a heated debate, one that ultimately led to her four-month suspension and ban from all Olympic Training Centers, effective until August 3, 2025.
In her message, Jones also hinted that this was more than just a personal incident.
“I want to sincerely thank everyone for the support, all the messages, the encouragement, and the Olympians who’ve privately shared their own experiences with me,” she wrote.
“No athlete in pain should ever be left without care,” Jones added.
Jones’ ban ends in August, but the U.S. relationship damage persists. Olympic infrastructure seems significant. A four-time world champion and dual-sport Olympian, her exclusion from training centers is a notable setback both personally and professionally.
