“I feel like being able to represent my country, as well as being an athlete for my country, it definitely brings a different meaning and a different caliber.”
Olympic bobsledder Jasmine Jones said she is “honored” to represent the United States as she competes in her first Olympic Games, describing her dual role as both an athlete and a member of the US Air Force as meaningful to her.
“I feel like being able to represent my country, as well as being an athlete for my country, it definitely brings a different meaning and a different caliber,” Jones told Fox News. “I feel like there’s so few people who do both at the same time, and I’m honored to have this opportunity to represent both. I’m thankful for being an airman and representing my country in that aspect.”
“It definitely ties it together and brings different meaning and how much more I have to give,” she added.
Jones missed qualifying for the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, after which she joined the Air Force and became part of the World Class Athlete Program.
“I’m just thankful to be an airman,” she explained. “Going into the WCAP program, that allowed me to truly have my offseason training, allowed me to get to this point… Having that offseason training to be able to focus truly and put in the work. That transpired with this moment.”
Now a mother, Jones said that the biggest thing she has learned is being resilient.
“The biggest thing I’ve learned is being resilient, and I feel like that plays a part, where, going into basic, and you’re waking up early. You’re following orders,” she said. “You’re getting that discipline needed, and that goes into bobsled… So, I feel like transitioning from basic training and having that discipline as well translates into just knowing exactly what I’m supposed to do.”
Jones’ comments drew widespread praise, particularly amid controversy surrounding other Team USA athletes who have critizied representing the US at the Olympics. Notably, skier Hunter Hess faced backlash after saying he had “mixed emotions” representing the country amid the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
