Detroit Lions receiver Marvin Jones will be supporting his sister’s dream of competing in the Olympics.
Jones signed a five-year, $40 million contract with the Detroit Lions this offseason. The deal includes an $8 million signing bonus. He will be using that money to support his sister, Vanessa, as she tries to make it to the Olympics in Rio this summer. He will be paying for Vanessa’s training costs, which are around $3,750 and a $1,000 stipend for her living expenses, which are $580 a month for rent and $420 for food, gas, and other necessities, according to ESPN. Jones will also pay for any travel costs if necessary. Vanessa was shocked when her brother said that he would pay for her training and living expenses.
“It motivated me even more,” Vanessa Jones said. “I was just being patient and was praying about it, and then Marvin came with his idea and it was like, ‘Oh, it worked out.’ I didn’t know if I wanted to stay at USC or find a coach. He literally took everything in his hands and talked to the recruiting person. He called me and told me to go online and fill out all the paperwork and we’re going to get you in. Then it all happened. I was thankful and blessed to have a brother that believes in me as much as I do in myself. It’s amazing.”
Marvin said that he didn’t have to think twice about it and that he wanted to invest in his sister’s future.
Vanessa was a track star at USC. She is currently training at Atlis, a training facility in Phoenix, Arizona. She is training to compete in the 400-meter dash and the 4x400 relay at the Rio Olympics this summer, according to Fox Sports. The track and field trials for the Olympics will be from July 1 to July 10.
If Vanessa does make it to the Olympics in Rio, Marvin might not be able to go. The Lions will be at training camp at the time of the Olympics.