In a January 15, 2025, interview with PEOPLE, Marion Jones said her children were too young to understand her wrongdoing when she was sentenced in 2008. What weighed on her, she said, was knowing they would eventually have to face “the reality of mom’s choices.” The interview conveys Jones’s perspective; it does not include her children’s own accounts.
What Marion Jones said about her children
Jones recalled that her children were very young when she received her federal prison sentence. “When I was sentenced, I had two young children, too young for them to understand, knowing that I had done wrong,” she told PEOPLE.
She described the hardest part as anticipating what they might have to confront later: “To me, the hardest part was just knowing at some point, they were going to have to deal with the reality of mom’s choices.” These are Jones’s reflections on her concern as a mother; the interview does not quote her children or establish how they experienced the events.
The public consequences behind her remarks
Jones won three gold and two bronze medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. After she admitted using performance-enhancing drugs, those medals were revoked, as PEOPLE and the EBSCO Research Starters biography report.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems#1 Best Overall
- 🔄【Adjustable Height for Versatile Training】: DRKSBesto adjustable hurdles offer five height settings (30-33-36-39-42 inches), making them suitable for users of different ages and skill levels. Perfect for track and field, football, soccer, and agility training.
- 🛡️【Stable and Durable Materials】: Featuring a reinforced crossbar and steel adjustable rod, these training hurdles are sturdy yet lightweight. The rust-resistant design allows for repeated indoor and outdoor use.
- ⚙️【Customizable Weight System】: Each hurdle features an easy-to-use weight adjustment knob, allowing you to set resistance levels with a screwdriver to suit your training needs.
- 🔧【Quick and Easy Assembly】: Simple steps allow fast setup—just place the bases, install the poles, attach the crossbar, and adjust the counterweight. Great for teams, schools, or home workouts.
- 🏅【Multi-Sport Application】: DRKSBesto adjustable hurdles are ideal for a range of sports including running, track and field, football, rugby, and baseball, or any activity focusing on agility, power, and jumping training.
The athletic sanction and the later criminal sentence were separate consequences. PEOPLE reports that Jones was sentenced to six months in federal prison in 2008 in a case involving lying to federal authorities and participation in a check-fraud scheme. Jones’s comments about her children connect that public history to the personal consequences she anticipated, without providing their perspective.
Jones’s apology and decision to return to public view
In the interview, Jones said she had apologized for disappointing people and now wanted to move forward, while acknowledging that not everyone would accept that view: “Over the years, I’ve shared my sincere apology for letting down so many people and it’s time to move on. It’s not an answer that some people will like, but that’s how I feel now.”
Rank #2
- 🔄【Adjustable Height for Versatile Training】: DRKSBesto adjustable hurdles offer five height settings (30-33-36-39-42 inches), making them suitable for users of different ages and skill levels. Perfect for track and field, football, soccer, and agility training.
- 🛡️【Stable and Durable Materials】: Featuring a reinforced crossbar and steel adjustable rod, these training hurdles are sturdy yet lightweight. The rust-resistant design allows for repeated indoor and outdoor use.
- ⚙️【Customizable Weight System】: Each hurdle features an easy-to-use weight adjustment knob, allowing you to set resistance levels with a screwdriver to suit your training needs.
- 🔧【Quick and Easy Assembly】: Simple steps allow fast setup—just place the bases, install the poles, attach the crossbar, and adjust the counterweight. Great for teams, schools, or home workouts.
- 🏅【Multi-Sport Application】: DRKSBesto adjustable hurdles are ideal for a range of sports including running, track and field, football, rugby, and baseball, or any activity focusing on agility, power, and jumping training.
PEOPLE’s interview also discusses her appearance on Fox’s Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test. Jones framed showing up despite possible criticism as an example she wanted to set for her children: “I can’t go back and change things, but I’ve come here to set an example for my kiddos that courage is stepping out when you don’t want to with the possibility that there’s going to be critics, there’s going to be opinions, but you just don’t disappear.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the interview does—and does not—establish
The interview documents how Jones now describes the prospect of her children confronting her choices, alongside her stated apology and wish to move on. It does not report the children’s views, their reactions, or how they themselves understood the scandal. Those questions remain unanswered by this account.
Rank #3
- Fully Adjustable. These hurdles can be adjusted to 6, 9, or 12 in. tall so the user can progressively challenge themselves as they improve.
- Portable. These lightweight hurdles are collapsible so that they can be easily folded, carried around, or stored.
- Get Faster, Grow Stronger. These high-quality Body Sport Adjustable Speed Training Hurdles are perfect for quickly building agility and coordination. These hurdles are the choice tool used by professional and new athletes to boost overall athletic performance no matter the sport.
- Set of Five. Get a set of five, brightly colored hurdles that are built to last and used to build agility and jumping abilities over time.
- Carry Bag Included. An extra large carry bag is included to easily bring your hurdles with you wherever you go as well as any other small items you may need for training.
For broader biographical context, EBSCO’s 2025 entry lists Jones’s 2010 memoir, On the Right Track: From Olympic Downfall to Finding Forgiveness and the Strength to Overcome and Succeed, coauthored with Maggie Greenwood-Robinson. That listing establishes the book’s publication details, not a separate account from her children.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Adjustable Multi-Sport Training Set: This adjustable agility hurdles set works as multi-sport training equipment for youth, kids, teams, and dogs, supporting soccer, football, basketball, and rugby drills. The bright yellow poles and sturdy bases stay stable on turf, grass, indoor floors, or a backyard
- Wide Height Range for Skills & Speed: Height adjusts from beginner levels to full 4FT for speed, skills, footwork, and hurdle practice, ideal for coach-led sports sessions or home entrenamiento. Quick-clip connectors let the center pole drop safely on contact—a must-have feature for kids and pets
- Heavy-Duty Stability for Pro-Level Drills: Heavy rubber bases provide reliable support for team conditioning, slalom runs, bending steps, agility drills, and functional drill routines. Each stick is made from durable plastic, resisting cracks and ensuring long-lasting performance—true training must haves
- Detachable & Portable for Any Training Field: The detachable design allows fast setup for coaching in the field, park, turf, or car garage. Supports horses-inspired slalom patterns and advanced movement kit routines, making it versatile for various training surfaces and athletes of all levels.
- Complete Set with Storage Bag: Comes with a convenient storage bag for easy transport and organized supplies. Perfect for individual athletes, school coaches, and dog owners seeking adaptable sport gear that boosts coordination, acceleration, and agility in every session.
Rank #4
- Multi-Height Adjustability: With 5 precise height settings (76.2cm, 84cm, 91.4cm, 100cm, 106.7cm), this hurdle adapts seamlessly to diverse age groups, skill levels, and training needs—from youth athletes to professionals.
- Trusted NELOMO Quality: Backed by the reputable NELOMO brand, known for durable sports equipment, this hurdle is engineered to withstand rigorous training sessions and competitive use, ensuring long-lasting performance.
- Sturdy Steel Construction: Crafted with high-grade steel, the hurdle offers exceptional rigidity and stability, resisting bending or warping even under repeated impact, making it ideal for both indoor and outdoor use.
- Secure Base with Weighted Design: Equipped with a built-in weighted base, the hurdle stays firmly in place during intense workouts, preventing tipping and enhancing safety for athletes pushing their limits.
- Versatile for All Disciplines: Perfect for sprint hurdles, middle-distance training, and skill development, this adjustable hurdle caters to track and field programs, schools, and home gyms, eliminating the need for multiple fixed-height hurdles.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
