Marion Jones returns: "You have to be courageous even if they criticize you"

Marion Jones has returned to competition... Well, a competition anyway. The disgraced Olympian is back in the public eye after taking part in one of the most extreme reality shows on American television, 'Special Forces: World's Toughest Test'.

The show is in its third season on Fox and has featured celebrities such as Mel B, Dwight Howard, and now Marion Jones, being trained by the US military special forces.

Photo: Special Forces: World's Toughest Test - Facebook

The program is intensely physical and competitors are prone to suffering various injuries throughout the competition.

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Additionally, Jones, 49, who has now exited the program, faced off against model and influencer Kayla Nicole in a match-up that resulted in Jones suffering multiple broken ribs.

Regardless of her performance in 'Special Forces: World's Toughest Test,' what truly stands out is Jones opening up about her descent into sporting infamy at the turn of the century.

For those who might not recall, Jones was at the center of the infamous BALCO (Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative) scandal, one of the most significant doping scandals in sports history. The fallout was so severe that the five medals she earned at the Olympic Games – three golds and two bronzes – were stripped from her.

In 2008, Jones faced a six-month prison sentence for perjury, marking a dramatic fall from grace. Her career unravelled, with contracts and sponsorships disappearing overnight – as reported by the New York Times, among others – and she became a target of criticism and scrutiny for years to follow.

Before leaving the reality show, Jones opened up and shared details of her life, such as the 49 days she spent in prison, altercations she had with other inmates, and how she feels today.

"For years I have sincerely apologized for disappointing so many people, but it's time to move on. Some people may not like it, but that's how I feel right now. For a long time I decided to step away from the public eye, but now I'm coming back to see what I can do," she said on the show.

Of course, despite her experience, she admits that the hardest thing was facing her reality and telling it to her children. "They were little then, but at some point they would have to deal with everything that happened to their mother."

Today, Jones recognizes that "I can't go back and change things, but I came here to set an example for my children: you have to be brave even if they criticize you for it."

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