Lolo Jones gets emotional while responding to "heartbreaking" criticism

Lolo Jones of the United States looks on after competing in the Women's 100m Hurdles Semifinals on Day 11 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 7, 2012 in London, England. / Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

(CBS/AP) LONDON - With her voice choking and eyes welling with tears, U.S. hurdler Lolo Jones took issue with what she called "heartbreaking" criticism a day after she barely missed winning an Olympic medal.

Jones appeared on NBC's "Today" on Wednesday and was asked about a recent story in The New York Times that said her stardom had more to do with marketing than her accomplishments on the track.

"They just ripped me to shreds, and I just thought that that was crazy," Jones said.

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Lolo Jones

She finished fourth in the 100-meter hurdles Tuesday, 0.10 seconds behind bronze medalist Kellie Wells. At Beijing four years ago, Jones was leading the final when she hit the ninth of 10 hurdles and wound up seventh.

"Putting your heart out there, obviously, it opens you up to a lot of negativity," Jones said.

Lolo Jones "crushed" after finishing 4th in 100-meter hurdles
Does Lolo Jones deserve all the hype surrounding her?

The Times article said Jones has "received far greater publicity than any other American track and field athlete competing in the London Games. This was based not on achievement but on her exotic beauty and on a sad and cynical marketing campaign."

Jones is backed by big-name sponsors and has appeared on magazine covers, including a recent issue of "Time." Her charisma and childhood narrative — her family once lived in a church basement in Iowa — only add to her story.

She has no Olympic or world outdoor championship medals, but in her interview Wednesday she defended her record and her dedication to her sport.

"I work six days a week every day for four years for a 12-second race, and the fact that they just tore me apart, it was just heartbreaking," Jones said. "I am the American-record holder indoors. I have two world indoor titles and just because I don't boast about these things, I don't think I should be ripped apart by media.

"So, I mean, I laid it out there, I fought hard for my country, and I think it's just a shame that I have to deal with so much backlash when I'm already so brokenhearted as it is."

Sponsorship marketing consultant Dan Migala, a partner in the Property Consulting Group, spoke with "CBS This Morning" co-hosts Gayle King and Jeff Glor about the making of Olympic media stars, including Lolo Jones and others. To see the intverview, click on the video at left.

Jones's own teammates have also taken issue with the sprinter's fame. Olympic medalists Dawn Harper, who took silver in the 100-meter hurdles, told NBC Sports Network that she didn't appreciate being overshadowed by Jones in the media.

"All of sudden it's just like, 'Were going to push your story aside, and still gonna push this one.' That hurt. It did. It hurt my feelings," Harper said.

Wells, who won bronze, also seemed to take a shot at Jones' work ethic, telling NBC Sports Network: "Well, I think that, on the podium tonight, the three girls that earned their spot and they got their medals and they worked hard and did what they needed to do, prevailed."

[yarnplay]

Another website has a picture of the reporter who took it upon himself to accuse Ms Jones of being too attractive etc. This is definitly not one of his problems, in my opinion, this man is all sour grapes.

[roncee1]

For the snipes that are berating Ms Jones. She is the American-record holder indoors, and has two world indoor titles. Placing fourth at thirty years old to younger athletes in the Olympics is not too bad. For Harper and Wells..........Get over it, neither of you won the gold medal so you are also-rans too. A silver or bronze medal will not get you on the Wheaties box.

Personal bests: Jones 100M Hurdles 12.43
Harper 100M Hurdles 12.48
Wells 100M Hurdles 12.50

[82ndairbornediv]

I didn't know it was about a beauty pageant. I thought it was about WHO COULD RUN THE FASTEST.

[roncee1]

"I thought it was about WHO COULD RUN THE FASTEST."

It is; but then neither Wells nor Harper was the fastest; that went to Sally Pearson from Australia.

[BuckeyeSeabee]

I've lost all respect for Harper and Wells. Learn how to win gracefully! Why are you two girls so jealous of someone you beat that you would badmouth your teammate on national TV? Never mind, I know why; because when the glamor of your medals fade, you'll still be ugly. Your personalities aren't helping you. These are two medalists I can't bring myself to celebrate. Some people just have rise above all the drama and represent their accomplishments. These two girls obviously aren't capable of that.

[doseghostman]

So how many athletes have confidence in their abilities. She said she would prove those who said she did not belong wrong. How many of you reading this have had people say you were not good enough or could not make it? I know I have heard that. It drove me at times to work harder. I have had successes and failures haven't you? For most of us the world does not get to watch us fall. And how much did she fail> She is the 4th fastest in the world on the olympic stage. How many athletes competed to go to the olympics? How many did she best to get there? Lots. Did you see her page she offered congratulations to her teammates and instead of standing with her and being teammates and fellow countrymen they throw her under the bus. Funny, but if two white athletes did this to a black athlete it would be RACIST! Well I know we are all Adam's race and all have one savior. I think the young ladies that won should be celebrated but the classy thing to do is not to be pawns of division but to be honorable ambassadors of what the games are all about.
I hear the same bitterness from some of the writers here. Keep your hate in check and lets celebrate all of our athletes who sacrificed so much to be there and to represent us. God bless these athletes and God bless America.

[bradkt1]

I have mixed feelings about Lolo Jones.

She was a media darling who really hadn't "walked the walk." She is attractive and has the talent, but she didn't win when it was the big time. I think that a lot of the heat that she is getting is coming from those who believed that she hadn't earned being placed upon a pedestal like she had been prior to the London Olympics by the media.

Second, all of this media promotion smacked of misplaced priorities. The Olympics are about the honor of representing your country. They are not just step one in your business plan. That's what all of this Lolo media hype smacked of to me. Represent your country first. If you succeed, the financial rewards will take care of themselves. I have lots of sympathy for someone who tried her best to represent her country and didn't win. The guy who ran the men's 400 whose legs had been amputated when he was a kid is what the Olympics are about...not about self-annointed "Dream" Teams" and "Redeem" Teams and agents with their media marketing plans. Sometimes it's about the guy who finishes last but who has the determination to finish. I could care less about someone whose business plan went awry because she didn't win the gold medal.

Lolo Jones just missed winning an Olympic medal. Fourth best in the world ain't bad...but now all we see is failure...

...because of the way she was hyped.

[Daithi66]

She was good enough to make the U.S. Olympic Team, and good enough to make it through several heats to make the finals, and good enough to come in a strong fourth against the best in the world. Also keep in mind that she is now 30 and facing younger competition. Had she not caught the 9th hurdle four years ago, she probably would have won. I have nothing but respect for Lolo, and nothing but contempt for the small minded and jealous detractors.

[mthom086]

LOLO you did it to yourself. You obsessed over the attention you got and it went to your head. For two years you bragged how you were going prove all the nay sayers wrong and in reality you proved them right.

while you were talking to any reporter that would listen and tweeting, others were training. You weren't good enough and if you weren't pretty, you'd have NO endorsements. lets get real.