[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 141 (Monday, September 8, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S8117]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     COMMENDING OLYMPIAN LOLO JONES

  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, today I honor an Iowan who has 
courageously pursued her dreams through great adversity and who has 
displayed outstanding character and grace throughout her life. Lori 
``Lolo'' Jones recently returned from Beijing, where she competed as a 
hurdler in the 2008 Olympic Games. Lolo made us all very proud as she 
represented the United States in Beijing. Although she did not come 
away from Beijing with a medal, she realized her dream of competing in 
the Olympics and was a model of athleticism, sportsmanship, and 
determination.
  Lolo has had seemingly limitless energy, a positive attitude and an 
intense focus on running since she was a child. It is these 
characteristics that have allowed her to overcome what many would 
consider to be challenging circumstances, including the fact that her 
family relocated frequently throughout her childhood.
  As a student at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, she excelled at 
running as well as academics. After graduating from Roosevelt, Lolo 
became the first in her family to attend college when she enrolled at 
Louisiana State University, where she excelled on the LSU track team. 
She graduated with an economics degree and a minor in Spanish, yet 
deferred seeking a career in her field of study, determined to pursue 
her running career instead. She worked part-time jobs to support 
herself and to have free time to travel for competitions. After missing 
an opportunity to compete in Athens in 2004, her former LSU coach 
persuaded sponsors to recognize Lolo's great potential, allowing her to 
devote herself to becoming a world-class professional athlete.
  Competing in and winning many races around the world in the years 
leading up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Lolo became a highly respected 
athlete, not only for her performances, but for her exemplary 
sportsmanship and generosity.
  And, through it all, Lolo never forgot where she began her journey. 
She returned to Roosevelt High School earlier this year to make a 
donation for improvements to the track, and also for new shoes and 
equipment for the track team. She also donated winnings from a recent 
race to a victim of the flooding that ravaged Iowa this spring.
  I salute Lolo Jones for her extraordinary discipline and hard work, 
for her determination to improve and excel as an athlete, and also for 
her grace, generosity, and strength of character. She has been, and 
will continue to be, a wonderful role model for all athletes and for 
all young people seeking to excel in their field. I congratulate her on 
all of her achievements and on realizing her dream of competing in the 
Olympics. I hope and expect that we will see Lolo again in London in 
2012, this time hurdling her way toward Olympic gold.

                          ____________________