"My knees are hanging by a thread": Former doping athlete Marion Jones struggles to descend her stairs, the video goes viral

A former world sprint star, before admitting to doping, Marion Jones recently posted a viral video on Instagram. It shows the 50-year-old American struggling to descend her stairs.

Marion Jones shone at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, winning three gold and two bronze medals, which were stripped from her eight years later after she admitted to doping before the Games. Since then, the Californian has faced significant financial difficulties and served time in prison. But in recent years, her health has become a major concern.

This Saturday, the 50-year-old athlete posted a video on her Instagram account, which quickly went viral. The footage, which received nearly 190,000 likes, shows her struggling down the stairs of her home. The caption reads: "I'm always asked, 'Are you Marion Jones, the fastest woman in the world at one time?' But never, 'How are your knees?' My knees are hanging by a thread, folks. But we're still standing."

Faced with an avalanche of supportive comments revealing some concern, she added: "I'm not here to impress anyone, I'm here to tell you the truth about rebuilding your life."

From paralysis to marathons

While Marion Jones hasn't specified the reasons for these motor difficulties, many internet users have seen a link to the illness she has been battling for several years. In 2020, Marion Jones was paralyzed due to neuromyelitis optica, a rare autoimmune disease. For nearly a year, she could barely walk. Until she was finally able to get around, even run. She has since managed to complete several marathons, sometimes without informing her doctors.

"I am currently receiving infusions every two weeks," she told Fox 32 Chicago in October 2024. "So I am hospitalized every two weeks to receive infusions that allow me to control my illness, stay healthy, and regain strength."