The secret of Jones’ success? Family
Day two of Marion Jones week got off to an early start as Marion, along with her mother and brother, were featured guests on a special 7:00 a.m. broadcast on nationwide radio and television. Hosted by Marion’s uncle, Godwin Hulse, the programme was part family reunion and part press conference. As she demonstrated yesterday, Marion’s amazing athlete abilities are matched by a world class personality.
Audience Member
“Can we look forward to Marion Jones doing this again when she wins her other golds in the other Olympics coming up?”
Marion Jones
“I don’t even think it should have to wait that four years. I don’t think that we should have to have this celebration only when a Marion Jones wins a medal. We should celebrate our athletes regardless. I am totally aware that in a small way I am a catalyst in a way of opening people’s eyes in understanding and learning to embrace what we have, but I don’t think it should take going to the Olympics and having to win three gold medals and two bronze to have everybody so excited about sports in this country.”
“I think it’s important for the athletes to realise that there are people who are committed to them, there are people who are running things who are committed to them getting better. I think if the athletes see that and they see that there is an open line of communication, then they’ll feel encouraged to want to go out there everyday, get better, have fun and things will progress. A very prominent example, in the country of Bahamas, they have around the same population as Belize, yet they won the gold medal in the 4×100 relay They had three women in the hundred metre final, that race that we saw, they had two women in the final of the two hundred metres and several other relays there. And so I think what we all need to understand it that it’s not just going to take one set, it’s not going to take the government doing all the funding, it’s not going to necessarily take just the private sector, it’s going to take a combination of things.”
Audience Member
“I would like to speak to your mother, and to ask her perhaps to say something to those Belizean women who are struggling to rear children on their own and to give them a message of hope.”
Marion Hulse Toler, Mother of Marion Jones
“I would like to say to women in general, but particularly those who consider their situation a struggle, that it is possible but you’ve got to isolate what’s important and if you have children, naturally children come first… in everything. You must put your children first; you must realise that it is your responsibility. So struggles, everyone has that, even people who have mother and father, jobs whatever, everyone has struggles and that’s going to be, that’s part of our journey every single one of us. Put you children first, they don’t need everything, they don’t need fifty airs of shoes, they don’t need what the Jones have down the street. All they need is to be healthy and to love, give them love.”
From the Princess it was only a short hop to the National Stadium, where Marion got down to the business of working with Belizean athletes. News 5’s camera was on hand as the world’s fastest woman turned into Belize’s number one coach.
Marion Jones
“I think we’re all making a commitment, a commitment to all of you to get things better. And we’re all aware that things need to get better, but we are committed, just look around, to getting things better.”
“I hope a lot of you are not sitting out there saying, well she has it good, she has this facility, this coach, because we’re working on that we promise. We promise we’re working on that and we’re going to get it done.”
“Thank you for all of the gifts, but the next time that I stand in front of you, all of the money and the time and effort that has gone into the gifts will go into getting us all ready alright. So enough of the gifts already, let’s get the facilities ready, let’s get the coaches here, let’s get things started.”
(Marion coaching the athletes)
“Relax all this okay, because in the blink of an eye you’re gonna have to be so intense and tight, give yourself, your body a chance to relax for a second and prepare your body for what’s about to happen.”
“There’s the start, which in a hundred metre is very, very important because it can make or break you. Easily I can get last place if slip in the blocks, easily. So you’ve got to get a good start.”
“Ready, set, go. Right back here, you see how she’s butt kicking in a certain way instead of driving?”
Following her session at the stadium Jones and her party flew to Dangriga, then on to Punta Gorda where she was enthusiastically welcomed by citizens of both communities. Tonight at 7:00 Marion will be presented with the Order of Belize in a ceremony that we’ll broadcast live.
