Did you know there’s an age limit to qualify for the Olympics? Athletes usually need to be at least 15 to compete, which means plenty of young talents can’t make the cut simply because they’re a tad too young. Tia Jones is a prime example. She was a diamond in the rough back in 2013 when she stormed the 100 and 200-meter hurdles for her age group, earning the title of USA Track and Field’s Athlete of the Week. But here’s where the plot thickens—by 2016, at just 15, Tia had the golden opportunity to try for the Olympics! But was she able to be part of it?

In the 2016 Olympics Tia couldn’t compete officially in the Olympics due to her age. But she was part of a group of aspiring youngsters who experienced the Olympic atmosphere as a once-in-a-lifetime chance. But did she achieve success then? Well, Tia managed to break national and junior records at the Field Championships and the USATF National Junior Olympic Track competitions. With her exceptional skills blossoming at a tender age, it’s no surprise she drew the attention of players. Opportunities began flooding in. As she wrapped up her year in high school, a lucrative contract with Nike was placed on the table. Surprisingly, she chose to decline this offer. The question is, what led her to make that decision?

Tia’s surprising decision changed everything!

Track and field athletes are well aware that they don’t earn high paychecks like NBA or NFL players. Their salaries are usually a small fraction of what those sports stars make. They often depend on sponsorships to make a living. Tia was no different in this aspect. When Nike presented her with an offer, it wasn’t all sailing as there was a catch involved.

Tia Jones recently made a splash on the YouTube podcast “The Pregame Podcast with Tokyo and Sydnee,” specifically in Episode 3, where she opened up about her decision to decline a Nike offer. She explained that the deal would have required her to move away from her family, sharing, “They wanted me to go professional, but they wanted me to, like, you know, move away from family, kind of how, um, Gabby Douglas did. But you know, that black household—my parents weren’t going for that, so they turned it down.” In the end, Tia chose her family above the chance, displaying her dedication to her origins and principles.

Tia’s parents were uncomfortable with the prospect of her daughter leaving to pursue a professional career, so they declined Nike’s offer. Instead, during her final year, she signed a deal with Adidas, and she believes her parents made the correct decision to safeguard her at such a young age. Looking back, she remarked, “I definitely do” believe they made the correct decision, adding, “This world is crazy,” demonstrating how much she values their concern for her safety. Tia feels they likely protected her from some difficult issues that might have arisen if she had gone pro too soon. Now that she’s 24, it’s evident she struck the ground running, and her path demonstrates she was intelligent above her years from the beginning.

How Jones shattered records after injury in track and field!

Tia Jones came into this world on September 8th in the year 2000. She discovered her love for running in childhood, which paved the way for her journey to becoming a pro athlete post-high school graduation. She fearlessly participated in the London Olympic trials, where she exhibited her skills in hurdles and sprints with finesse.

At the USA Junior Championships, Tia secured the 100-meter hurdles title in a time of 12:84 seconds, setting a record! Unfortunately, her road to success faced a setback due to an ACL injury this year, which saw her having to step and opt out of the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow.

Despite that setback, she hit the ground running in her indoor campaign, making waves by setting a world record at the February US Indoor Championships in Albuquerque with a time of 7.67 seconds. This impressive feat even matched Bahamian sprinter Devynne Charlton’s world record at the Millrose Games in New York City that same month. Expectations were high during the U.S. Olympic trials in Paris, but she was forced to withdraw after competing in the first round. She ran 12.90 seconds for fourth place, which qualified her for the semifinals, but she chose not to compete, putting her Olympic ambitions on hold.