Unsure about her future, Vanessa Jones called her older brother last July looking for advice. Her college career at USC was over and she had a rough showing in the 400 meters at the USA Outdoor Championships.
In tears, she asked Detroit Lions receiver Marvin Jones what to do. Track mattered. She wanted it to be her future. But her confidence was off. She didn’t know what was next.
That’s when her brother shocked her. He told her he would pay for her training and living expenses this year as she prepared for July’s Olympic trials and, the two hope, the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.