Failure Is Not Forever: Marion Jones' Pivot from Scandal to Finding Purpose

For The Long Run: Exploring the Why Behind Running

The media often only shows one side of a story where the “fastest woman on the planet” has to return her Olympic medals.

Marion Jones competed in track and field and became a household name in the early 2000’s, working with major brands and competing in 5 events at the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics.

In 2007, Marion confessed that she had lied about taking performance enhancing drugs and was sentenced to six months in jail after a scandal involving over 20 professional athletes.

Marion used her resolve to make an impressive comeback to competitive sports, publish her book “On The Right Track,” and launch her campaign to help youth make better decisions.

Listen to hear about:

• Marion’s early days as an athlete who loved training even more than competing
• The shift from professional athlete to entrepreneurial coach and the parallels between sport and business
• Marion’s story of having her Olympic medals taken away due to performance enhancing drugs
• How Marion decided to take what was a failure and turn it into a way to improve others’ lives
• Reframing failure and rebranding your life after adversity

Stay connected:

• Marion on Instagram: instagram.com/themarionjones
• For The Long Run Podcast on Instagram: instagram.com/forthelrpod
• Jon Levitt on Instagram: instagram.com/jwlevitt
• Join the For The Long Run email community: for-the-long-run.beehiiv.com

PSST! Did you hear the secret giveaway challenge we’re hosting with MadeGood? It’s mentioned in the episode. Good luck!

This episode is supported by:

• Hyperice: Innovative recovery tools for all types of training. My favorite are the Normatec leg boots and Normatec Go portable calf sleeves. Reach out to me on Instagram for a discount code to use at hyperice.com.
• MadeGood: Get better-for-you, organic, and gluten-free snacks that help you fuel your training. Use LongRun15 for 15% off MadeGood on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/MadeGood/page/D52B1F41-B2AC-4B27-A77F-E83775F7089F
• Emich Kia of Denver: Family-owned and reliable dealer for buying or leasing an EV! I test drove the EV6 and it's a game-changer with 300+ mile range, super-fast charging, a sporty feel perfect for driving up into the mountains. Tell Emich Kia of Denver I sent you.
• Tifosi Optics: Fantastic sunglasses for every type of run. Anti-bounce fit, shatterproof, and scratch resistant. Use code FTLR2024 at this link for 15% off your pair.
• Visit Leadville: So you think you know Leadville? Lake County has so much more to offer year-round than just the 100 miler in the summer. If you’re thinking of getting away, highly recommend booking a trip to Leadville to get up into the mountains, eat yummy food, and play outside. Check out more of what Leadville has to offer here!