Lolo Jones has been publicly speaking about her decision to refrain from sex until marriage for years, but she admitted that being so candid about her virginity was a ‘mistake’ that has prevented her from finding love.
The 37-year-old Olympic hurdler and bobsledder opened up about the ‘virgin side’ of her life when she appeared on the latest episode of Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud series Cold as Balls.
‘That was a mistake,’ she said when Hard brought up her decision to publicly reveal she’s saving herself for marriage. ‘That killed all my dates after that — like didn’t even have a chance. Like before, at least I had a chance.’
Looking back: Lolo Jones, 37, has admitted it was a ‘mistake’ for her to publicly reveal she is a virgin and waiting until marriage to have sex
Candid: Jones opened up about the ‘virgin side’ of her life when she appeared on the latest episode of Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud series Cold as Balls
The devout Christian explained that before she announced that she is a virgin, she was able to able wait and have a potential partner get to know her a bit before revealing she won’t have sex until marriage.
‘Before, I’d like, tiptoe. “Okay, when’s a good time to tell him? Do I wait until he sees my personality a little bit? Or do I just drop the bomb?”‘ she recalled.
Hart asked if her mother, Lori, had anything to do with her decision to save herself for marriage, but the athlete insisted that she didn’t.
‘It’s definitely not from my mom,’ she said. ‘I mean, my mom never was married, so five kids … she’s having fun.’
Hard to handle: The Olympic hurdler and bobsledder said her decision to be honest about her virginity ‘killed’ her dating options
Jones went on to tell Hart that her decision to refrain from sex also negatively affects her career as a professional athlete.
‘I have a higher level of intensity because I don’t have any pressure release. Everybody knows me as stressed out,’ she admitted.
‘Having sex actually helps you as an athlete, a female athlete. It’s good for your hormones,’ she explained. ‘So I’m running at a disadvantage.’
Jones is one of the few athletes who has represented the U.S. in both the Winter and Summer Olympics.
She ran hurdles during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing and the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. She went on to compete in the 2014 Winter Olympics as a bobsledder.
Professional athlete: Jones is one of the few athletes who has represented the U.S. in both the Summer and Winter Olympics as a hurdler and bobsledder
Throwback: Jones opened up about being a virgin on HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel in 2012, saying her virginity is a ‘gift’ she wants to give her husband
Jones revealed she was a virgin on Twitter in 2012 and went on to open up about the decision on HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.
‘It’s just something, a gift I want to give to my husband,’ she said. ‘But please understand, this journey has been hard.
‘There’s virgins out there, I’m gonna let them know, it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. Harder than training for the Olympics, harder than graduating from college, has been to stay a virgin before marriage.’
Jones hasn’t been linked to many men since she shared that she’s a virgin, but she did reveal in January 2018 that she had smooched NBA star Blake Griffin — and it wasn’t great.
Spilling tea: Jones revealed in January 2018 that she kissed NBA star Blake Griffin — and it wasn’t great
‘I went on a date with him,’ she wrote on Instagram. ‘Worst date of my life and he’s a terrible kisser.’
In a candid Instagram post from September, Jones opened up about how she has only been in a few serious relationships in her life because of her decision to stay a virgin.
‘The longest relationship I’ve ever had was in college I dated a guy for over two years,’ she wrote. ‘That has been my only serious relationship. So keep me in your prayers bc I def need this cruel rom com that has been my dating life to end.’
Jones admitted her loneliness had even caused her to question her faith at times.
Heartbreak: In a candid Instagram post from September, Jones opened up about how she has only been in a few serious relationships in her life because of her decision to stay a virgin
Difficult: Jones said guys claimed to respect her and her decision to not have sex before marriage, but they never wanted to date her
‘It almost broke my relationship with God bc I felt He really had forsaken me,’ she explained. ‘And yes I know God doesn’t promise us anything and we should be content but I’m not on a soapbox preaching. I admit I went Thru a very lonely season.
‘Guys said they respected me and my decision to not have sex before marriage but they would never want to date me. Or wouldn’t have time,’ she recalled.
‘Two outta three of the last dates I went on said I was too old. (They were both Christians) so needless to say I’ve had my heart broke.
‘And I really hope I’m moving into a new season bc if I have to see another girl post her wedding photos on here I’m going to break my dayumm phone with my bare hands.’