Three-time Olympian Lolo Jones stated that Team USA "abandoned" her after she sustained a spinal injury during a bobsled training session in February 2025 at the Olympic training complex in Lake Placid, New York. Jones, who competed in both the Summer and Winter Games, described experiencing severe back pain and loss of bladder control immediately after a team-issued bobsled accelerated to nearly 90 mph.
According to Jones, she reported her symptoms to an athletic trainer, but claims the head of sports medicine at the facility canceled a scheduled treatment, stating Jones had already received medical attention that week. Jones, who had not been informed of the cancellation, arrived for the appointment only to find it was no longer approved.
Jones alleges that her access to sports medicine, as well as the broader Olympic training facility including rehabilitation areas, the weight room, housing, and the push track, was subsequently revoked. She was informed that her access was banned due to a violation of the facility's code of conduct, though she maintains that officials never specified which rule she broke or provided a formal hearing before imposing the ban.
Despite these restrictions, Jones competed in the World Championships in Lake Placid with pilot Elana Meyers Taylor, finishing sixth. She later sought an MRI at her own expense, which she says revealed a herniated disc, another disc bulge, multiple lumbar tears, and a cerebrospinal-fluid leak. Jones subsequently underwent spinal surgery and paid for her own rehabilitation, travel, and medical care, estimating the total cost of the injury and its aftermath to be around $100,000.
Jones criticized the current grievance system for Olympic athletes, arguing it is too costly and provides athletes with insufficient power against governing bodies. She believes Olympic athletes require stronger due-process protections and affordable avenues to challenge the institutions that control their medical care, funding, and competitive futures. Jones expressed that her experience has led her to reconsider the possibility of her future daughter pursuing a career as an Olympic athlete, stating, "I will not let my daughter be an Olympic athlete. She will not be treated like this."