Marion Jones reached the pinnacle of athletic success. As a star in track and field, Jones won several gold medals and earned millions of dollars in endorsements. But Jones lost everything after she lied to a grand jury about using steroids. She was sentenced to six months in prison.
For the first time since being released from prison, Jones gets to tell her story. She teamed up with director John Singleton for the ESPN “30 for 30” documentary Marion Jones: Press Pause. Jones discusses the film and redeeming herself after spending time in prison. –amir shaw
Why is this the right time to show the world what you have went through in the last three years?
I did the mandatory interviews such as “Oprah,” but I was really interested in being able to share my experiences. I wasn’t interested in any media where people would put their own slant on things. John Singleton sat down with my husband and I and they looked us in the face and told us that they would do right by us. I’m really proud and honored that these guys kept their word. It’s a good film. You can’t help but be inspired by the story.
How did jail open your eyes to the reality of things that you were unfamiliar with before your sentence?
I was in jail with women who didn’t know how to read or write and they are being released in five or six years. Some have to feed their kids and there aren’t any programs to help them. Everybody doesn’t have the connection and the ears of the world. A lot of people have to struggle. I appreciated what the women did for me. It wasn’t the easiest thing, but my faith helped me get through jail and my time in solitary confinement.
What did you learn about yourself while in jail?
I spent a lot of time going over certain events in my life. As a child, I didn’t have a father figure and I can really trace my problems with relationships. I was searching for somebody to give me the kind of love that I didn’t have for so long. I ignored people who really cared. I had that time to kind of put the pieces together. I spent some of the darkest days of my life in solitary confinement. It’s so interesting how life can take a 360 degree turn sometimes … I know in my heart that nobody can take away the memories of winning gold medals. It’s something that can never be taken away.
