Lolo Jones Says God Healed Her Hip After Surgery in Record Time
Less than three months after undergoing hip surgery, Olympic track athlete Lolo Jones is gearing up for her comeback race and believes God allowed her to recover faster than any other athlete who has undergone the procedure.
"They say I recovered faster than any other athlete who had hip surgery. Originally, I was told that there was absolutely no way I could recover in time for the indoor track season," Jones revealed in an ESPN report Thursday. "Recovery went so well, I'm having my first pro race at the end of this month. I think God allowed me to have this breakthrough."
After being on crutches for close to three weeks, the 33-year-old hurdler and bobsledder said she went from walking, to jogging and eventually hurdling. Two months after surgery, Jones began jumping hurdles again.
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Still, the road to recovery was not an easy one. After Jones' torn hip labrum resulted in her third major surgery in recent years, she admitted to feeling defeated.
"It was the first time in my career that I thought, I don't know if I can try this again. Mentally, I was breaking down," she told ESPN. "I love running and had a desire to go for Rio in 2016, but the setback was mentally draining. It messed with my confidence."
"In my mind, I couldn't imagine how I could come back quick enough. And after so many surgeries and attempts at the Olympic medal, I had a lot of anxiety and seriously thought about quitting," she revealed. " I had moments when I cried and wanted to give up. I went through the typical stages of feeling sorry for yourself."
Although she has yet to earn a medal for the Olympic games where she competed for hurdling and bobsledding, Jones believes she is better off for the experience after coming up short and being publicly ridiculed.
"It proved to me how mentally tough I am, that I could pour my heart into a sport in the face of failure. This helps going into Rio, where people are saying, 'She's been injured, she's too old, she should throw in the towel,'" Jones continued. "I have already faced failure. You've got to continue to pursue your dreams even when it hurts. It's not how you start, but how you finish."
After returning to hurdling for the first time in two months, Jones learned about the courage within herself and prayed that other people could do the same.
"Less than two months after hip surgery, I was able to hurdle for the first time. I was nervous to return," Jones wrote on Instagram. "My prayer for you guys tonight is that courage always rises when things attempt to intimidate you. Today, I did baby hurdles."
The athlete's comeback at the Camel City Elite meet will take place in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Jan. 30.
