Cause for Celebration: Marion Jones
Photo Credit: RecognizePod.com
There is no doubt that Olympic athletes have a rare combination of extreme natural talent, unwavering determination, and work ethic. In other words, they're built differently. This week's Cause for Celebration Presented by PNC highlight, the amazing Marion Jones, is no exception.
At just 12 years old, Jones was competing internationally in track and basketball. Noticing her talent, her family sacrificed stability to move around, landing her at the most competitive schools. It paid off as she won California’s Division I Player of the Year Award for basketball in ‘93 and the following year helped guide the University of North Carolina's team to a national championship.
Upon graduation, she shifted her focus to track and reached the pinnacle of that sphere, winning five medals in the 2000 Sydney Olympics (3 gold in the 100, 200, and 4x400 relay). Considered at the time the fastest woman on earth, any athletic pursuit Jones went after she dominated.
