Stage set for MJ — Her-story could be History

Sydney, September 21: Marion Jones' quest to become the greatest woman athlete the world has ever seen starts here in earnest on Friday wh...

Sydney, September 21: Marion Jones’ quest to become the greatest woman athlete the world has ever seen starts here in earnest on Friday when the Sydney Olympics athletics programme gets underway. Instead of talking the race the former basketball star will have to do it for real when the 100m heats begin.

It will be the launch of her campaign to do the impossible and lift five golds – the 100 and 200 metres, long jump and both relays. No woman athlete in Olympic history has managed to win more than four golds at a single Games. US head coach Karen Dennis has no doubt the 24-year-old has what it takes. "Knowing Marion, if she completes five events I think she can achieve her dream, I really do," said Dennis. "It would probably be an unprecedented accomplishment and make her one of the greatest athletes of all time. Marion has been a phenomenal athlete throughout her entire career so if she does phenomenal things, it shouldn’t come as a surprise.

"She’s driven to achieve, she’s got a lot of pride and a phenomenal amount of confidence in her abilities. It is a combination of all those qualities that make her so great."

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But despite Dennis’ confidence there remains the question of whether Jones’ body can stand the punishment it will be put through. After the 100m battle on Friday and Saturday she will then get three days’ rest before the first two rounds of the 200 metres on September 27 plus the long jump qualifying, followed by the 200 semifinals and final on the following day.

Then she will compete in the long jump final on September 29 then the 4×100 and 4×400 metres relays on September 30. It is a gruelling programme and there are fears that she risks a repeat of her nightmare at the World Championships in Seville last year when she collapsed in the 200m final.

As she hit the home straight she suddenly began to slow, then grabbed the small of her back before falling on her knees and finally lying prostrate on the track. She was wheeled away on a stretcher and two days later was flying home and her season in tatters. Pundits blamed the breakdown on her insistence on doing the long jump – an event that puts amazing stress on the back. Jones knows that she lacks the proper technique, putting even more strain on her body. So too does Dennis. "I think her toughest challenge is probably going to come in the long jump ."

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