Lolo Jones Comment On Bobsled Salary

After Lolo Jones posted a Vine video on Monday cheekily complaining about her $741.84 check from the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation, the most accomplished bobsledder in U.S. history called Jones’ comments “a slap in the face.”

Olympic gold medalist Steven Holcomb was in the midst of his second weightlifting session when the topic came up at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid. “It wasn’t taken very well,” Holcomb said. “People were really kind of insulted. You just made $741, more than most athletes in the sport. So what are you complaining about?”

“The way it came across to a lot of the athletes here was kind of snobby because she’s one of the most well-known athletes in the world and she’s making pretty good money in endorsements (as a two-time Olympic hurdler). And to basically turn around and slap us in the face because you didn’t make any money this year in bobsledding while taking money from other’s athletes? She slapped pretty much every athlete in the U.S. federation in the face. That was the general consensus.”

In the video Jones says to the camera, “Seven months with bobsled season. The whole season. That’s it.” On the phone, presumably talking to a mock landlord, she says, “I’m going to be a little late on my rent this month.” Then the camera focuses on her paycheck.

After being criticized by other bobsledders on Twitter, Jones said that she made the comment to bring attention to the issue. Brock Kreitzburg, a 2006 Olympian, tweeted: “Welcome to the world of bobsledding. Try 7 years of it. I think I left poorer than when I first began. #fortheloveofsport?”

Jones responded: “Speaking out is the first step to change. That is how Track and field changed our sport. We demanded improvements.”

The check Jones received was based on her performance in competitions throughout last season. The (FIBT) international bobsled federation contributes money that the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation divides up among the athletes based on results.

Jones and driver Jazmine Fenlator paired to win a silver medal at the World Cup season-opener in Lake Placid. She also helped the Americans win two team-event medals – a bronze at a World Cup in Igls, Austria, and gold in the mixed team event (which is not an Olympic event) at the world championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland.