London 2012 Track and Field: Lolo Jones Has Even More to Gain than Gold in this Olympics

You'd think it would be hard enough just trying to medal in the London 2012 Olympics.

For Iowan Lolo Jones, 30, whose fame outranks many other athletes with more Olympic success, the stakes are even higher.

There is a growing sentiment that the Des Moines native and former Louisana State University track star does not deserve the attention -- and endorsement deals -- she has received up to this point. As if to make this point, Jones' recent revelation that she is a virgin gained more attention than nearly anything else she had done involving hurdles or a track.

For example of this criticism, see this post on the New York Times that declares that Jones is valued more for her sex appeal than her athletic exploits.

Women have struggled for decades to be appreciated as athletes. For the first time at these Games, every competing nation has sent a female participant. But Jones is not assured enough with her hurdling or her compelling story of perseverance. So she has played into the persistent, demeaning notion that women are worthy as athletes only if they have sex appeal. And, too often, the news media have played right along with her.

Sort of a harsh judgment for an athlete who was one tripped hurdle away from winning the gold in 2008, but when you get the attention that Jones has, you get the resentment that comes with it.

(The New York Times piece has already received several critiques of its own, such as this one and this one.)

Can Jones bounce back and prove the critics wrong? It remains to be seen, but Jones has seemed shaky in recent races and is considered a longshot in the 100-meter event, which .

When the 100-meter hurdlers bolts out of the Olympic blocks on Monday, Jones will be part of a deep American group that outpaced her at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June.

Jones finished behind Trials winner Dawn Harper, who collected gold after the Des Moines native’s hurdle trouble in 2008, and Trials runner-up Kellie Wells.

The hurdles field also includes Australia’s Sally Pearson, the 2011 world champion who is favored by many to win gold in London, and 2009 world champion Brigitte Foster-Hylton of Jamiaca.

Will Jones win over her critics? Or will she just be an intriguing rags to riches story without a storybook ending?

For info on race times, .