(ATR) Veteran Summer Olympians Lolo Jones and Lauryn Williams have successfully made the transition from the track to the ice and will make their Winter Olympic debuts as push athletes on the U.S. women’s bobsled team.
The extroverted and outspoken Jones competed in the 100-meter hurdles in both Beijing and London, narrowly missing gold in 2008 when she stumbled and fell on the ninth hurdle approaching the finish.
Jones, 31, compared her previous Summer Olympic experiences to her time in Sochi thus far.
There are moments when I can’t believe this is happening walking around the [Olympic] village," Jones said on Monday. "It’s going to be so different and unique."
"It’s just weird because you have all that experience with Summer and there are times you feel like you’ve done this before, but when we went to the mountain village and there was snow and I was like, ‘hello bobsled.’"
Williams, 30, a three-time Olympic sprinter who won silver in the 100 meters in Athens 2004 and gold in the 4 x 100 relay in London 2012, was persuaded to take up bobsledding by Jones.
In William’s rookie season on the bobsleigh tour, she pushed her way to three podium finishes, including a recent victory with driver Jamie Greubel in Igls, Austria.
The world champion sprinter discussed her previous Olympic trips.
"There was a huge amount on pressure on me to do well, so I think I missed out on some of the Olympic experience," Williams said. "I think I have a better appreciation for it now because of all the different angles that I’ve been able tosee it from."
Having faltered in Beijing, Jones is still seeking an elusive medal.
"Obviously,I wouldn’t be here without everything that has transpired on my two previous Summer trips," Jones said. "I’m here now as a bobsled athlete and I’m not wanting to give up. I’m going to keep fighting."
Williams could become the fifth athlete in history to win both a Summer and Winter Olympics medal.
"I’m rally just trying to focus on the competition, then the history that could be made," Williams said. "If I do what I came here for, support my team, then the history will take care of itself."
Jones and Williams are the 9th and 10th Americans to compete in both the summer and winter editions of the Games.
Written by Brian Pinelli in Sochi
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