Olympics: Lolo Jones controversy heats up in awkward interview

Lolo Jones' shot at an Olympic medal ended Tuesday, but shots against the divisive U.S. track star are still coming.

In this case, from her own teammates.

Video courtesy of SB Nation

Dawn Harper and Kellie Wells appeared on NBC Sports on Wednesday morning after finishing second and third respectively for Team USA in the 100-meter hurdles—a race in which Jones finished fourth. The two were asked by host Michelle Beadle about their highly publicized teammate, and more specifically, comments Harper made to Sports Illustrated about Jones.

Harper explained to Beadle why she thought her story deserved more attention than it get compared to a certain teammate—cough, Lolo Jones, cough—who also was in the event.

That's when things got a little awkward.

OK, a lot awkward. The transcript:

Beadle [to Harper and Kellie Wells]: You guys kinda hang out together ... Is there fighting amongst the team—we're talking about Lolo Jones, if you can't figure this out—is there an awkward situation, or now that it's over we've all just moved on?

Wells: Well, I think that, on the podium tonight, the three girls that earned their spot and they got their medals and they worked hard and did what they needed to do, prevailed. And that's all that really needs to be said.

Beadle: Wow.

Harper: BOOM! Just like that. (laughs)

Beadle: You can cut the tension in here with a knife.

For her part, Jones said she was "brokenhearted" by not just the near-miss in Tuesday race but the negative media attention she's received, particularly from a New York Times story that ran Saturday.

“I think it was crazy just because it was two days before I competed, and then the fact that it was from a U.S. media," Jones told the "Today" show before fighting back tears. “They should be supporting our U.S. Olympic athletes and instead they just ripped me to shreds. I just thought that that was crazy because I worked six days a week, every day, for four years for a 12-second race and the fact that they just tore me apart, which is heartbreaking.

“They didn’t even do their research, calling me the Anna Kournikova of track. I have the American record. I am the American record holder indoors, I have two world indoor titles. Just because I don’t boast about these things, I don’t think I should be ripped apart by media. I laid it out there, fought hard for my country and it’s just a shame that I have to deal with so much backlash when I’m already so brokenhearted as it is.”

Good-looking, overexposed athlete? Check. Jealous teammates taking on-air swipes? Check. Olympic spirit of friendship and solidarity? Vanished.

Boom. Just like that.