Marion Jones deserves an exalted place among United States Olympians. She was the first American woman to win a medal at the Olympic Games when, on 9 July 1900, she won two bronze medals in tennis - one for the ladies’ singles, and one for the mixed doubles. In doubles she teamed with the great British star, Laurie Doherty, in an international pairing. Jones was one of the top American tennis stars at the turn of the century. She and her sister, Georgina (who also competed in the 1900 Olympic tennis events) played at the West Side Tennis Club in New York. The practice enabled Marion to twice win the U.S. women’s title (1899, 1902) and once win the U.S. mixed doubles title (1901). She was also runner-up at the US Championships in 1898 and 1903. In addition, Miss Jones was the first non-British woman to ever play at Wimbledon, reaching the quarter-finals there in the 1900 ladies’ singles. She was Southern California Singles Champion from 1984-98.
Jones’ family was from Nevada, where her father, John Percival Jones, was a five-time U.S. Senator. Jones eventually married Robert Farquhar, but they divorced shortly thereafter. From 1920 until 1961, Marion Jones Farquhar lived in Greenwich Village, where she was well known as a violinist and voice coach. She also translated opera librettos and for a short time was head of the New York Chamber Opera. In 1961 she moved to Los Angeles, where she lived until her death.
United States