[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 13] [Senate] [Pages 17979-17980] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]COMMENDING OLYMPIAN LOLO JONES Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, today I honor an Iowan who has courageously pursued her dreams through great adversity and who has displayed outstanding character and grace throughout her life. Lori ``Lolo'' Jones recently returned from Beijing, where she competed as a hurdler in the 2008 Olympic Games. Lolo made us all very proud as she represented the United States in Beijing. Although she did not come away from Beijing with a medal, she realized her dream of competing in the Olympics and was a model of athleticism, sportsmanship, and determination. Lolo has had seemingly limitless energy, a positive attitude and an intense focus on running since she was a child. It is these characteristics that have allowed her to overcome what many would consider to be challenging circumstances, including the fact that her family relocated frequently throughout her childhood. As a student at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, she excelled at running as well as academics. After graduating from Roosevelt, Lolo became the first in her family to attend college when she enrolled at Louisiana State University, where she excelled on the LSU track team. She graduated with an economics degree and a minor in Spanish, yet deferred seeking a career in her field of study, determined to pursue her running career instead. She worked part-time jobs to support herself and to have free time to travel for competitions. After missing an opportunity to compete in Athens in 2004, [[Page 17980]] her former LSU coach persuaded sponsors to recognize Lolo's great potential, allowing her to devote herself to becoming a world-class professional athlete. Competing in and winning many races around the world in the years leading up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Lolo became a highly respected athlete, not only for her performances, but for her exemplary sportsmanship and generosity. And, through it all, Lolo never forgot where she began her journey. She returned to Roosevelt High School earlier this year to make a donation for improvements to the track, and also for new shoes and equipment for the track team. She also donated winnings from a recent race to a victim of the flooding that ravaged Iowa this spring. I salute Lolo Jones for her extraordinary discipline and hard work, for her determination to improve and excel as an athlete, and also for her grace, generosity, and strength of character. She has been, and will continue to be, a wonderful role model for all athletes and for all young people seeking to excel in their field. I congratulate her on all of her achievements and on realizing her dream of competing in the Olympics. I hope and expect that we will see Lolo again in London in 2012, this time hurdling her way toward Olympic gold. ____________________