Jasmine Jones, part of the U.S. Olympic bobsled team, is gearing up for her Olympic debut in Milan-Cortina. As a mother to a 5-year-old and a member of the Air Force, she feels a profound pride in representing the United States, a sentiment she describes as adding “a different level” to her performance.
“Being able to represent your country as an athlete carries a unique weight,” Jones shared. “There are very few who manage to balance both roles simultaneously, and it’s a real honor for me to do so. I’m grateful to be an Airman and represent my country in this way,” she told FOX News Digital.
She narrowly missed out on competing in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics but joined the Air Force in April 2023. This decision, she believes, allowed her to undergo more intense training, which paved the way for her qualification in this year’s games. “I’m just so thankful to be in the Air Force. Being part of the WCAT program helped me a ton with off-season training. All that work truly made a difference,” Jones reflected.
After giving birth to her daughter in 2021, she sought more stability to pursue her Olympic ambitions, and the Air Force provided that direction.
“I wanted something that would give me more stability. I was juggling a civilian job and training, but that wasn’t cutting it. I knew I needed to focus fully on bobsledding,” Jones noted.
She emphasized the importance of resilience in her journey. “Starting basic training, getting up early, following orders—these are all about discipline. That discipline translates well into bobsledding,” she mentioned.
Interestingly, while other American athletes, like Hunter Hess, Amber Glenn, and Mikaela Shiffrin, have publicly criticized aspects of life back home, Jones and ice hockey player Brady Tkachuk have expressed their pride and gratitude for representing the United States in Italy.
Jones is somewhat out of the loop regarding her teammates’ criticisms, explaining, “I haven’t really been on social media much lately.”
Another athlete, Kelly Curtis, who is also competing in Italy, sent a personal letter through a program designed to connect Team USA with fans.
