Lolo Jones is one of the most accomplished athletes around. She began her career in the early 2000s at LSU as a sprinter and hurdler. An 11-time All-American, she won the 60m indoor hurdles in 2003 and was part of LSU’s back-to-back 4x100m relay team in 2003 and 2004. However, she failed to qualify for the 2004 Olympics. She made it to Beijing in 2008 but stumbled on the penultimate hurdle in the 100m event, turning a potential gold into a 7th-place finish. She improved to a 4th-place finish at London 2012. She also picked up world indoor titles in 2008 and 2010.
However, that isn’t her only sporting accomplishment. Jones (who is still racing as of 2023) is also a two-time World Championship bobsleigh gold medallist. She took home her first medal at the 2013 championships in the mixed team event. She returned to the podium in 2021, taking gold in the two-woman event. She is one of the greatest athletes to ever represent the United States.
Jones Calls Shaq “High” For Calling Reese the LSU GOAT
Jones’ success, and status as a Tigers alum, puts her in a unique position to debate Shaq’s recent claim that current junior Angel Reese is the greatest athlete to come out of LSU. “Look, Shaq’s just bored, you know? He’s coming off the hip surgery, he’s chilling at home. I think honestly that Shaq is high on some pain medicine.” However, Jones was not calling herself the GOAT, but instead arguing for LSU’s athletic prowess. “The list is so big from LSU. I just got back from practice – I train with thirteen Olympic athletes, all from LSU.” Overall, Jones spent over five minutes highlighting fellow alums and breaking down exactly why Shaq is wrong.
As much as we love Angel Reese, Jones has a point. LSU is absolutely loaded with GOAT contenders in every sport. Everyone knows that LSU is a sports school but one look at the school’s athletic hall of fame or pro league rosters shows you just how far the school sends its athletes. While Jones is clearly toying with Shaq a little, her overall point is clear. It’s that not Reese, who has only spent one season with LSU, isn’t great. It’s more that the LSU GOAT is not a title that can be handed out so easily. That is especially the case when LSU has produced so many athletes in sports that people don’t often think about. So while Jones is not bashing Reese in any way, she is standing up for the athletic prestige of her alma mater.
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