Why Jennifer Lopez Once Called a Major Accomplishment Not ‘the Best Idea’
Jennifer Lopez is a celebrity that seems to have touched on nearly every aspect of the entertainment world. From dancer, to actor, to singer, to fashionista, Lopez makes a habit of breaking molds and conquering obstacles.
Even now at age 50, she continues to strive to constantly improve and grow in her career and in her life. As a highly successful woman that seems to be able to excel in just about anything she puts her mind to, there is one goal she set out to complete that had her rethinking her choices.
What are some of Jennifer Lopez’s biggest accomplishments?
Lopez got her first break dancing as one of the Fly Girls in the early 1990s on the sketch show In Living Color.
From there she went on to star in the biopic Selena, showing the world that not only could she dance, but she had some serious acting abilities. She received a Golden Globe nomination for the role, but really made headlines for smashing through the glass ceiling as the first Latina to make over $1 million for a movie.
Though Lopez mostly lip-synched to Selena’s songs in the film, she did go on to show she had some serious pipes of her own. She recorded several albums and a handful of her singles made it to number 1 on the Billboard charts.
Wanting to showcase more Latinas in mainstream films, she also starred in a string of rom-com films including The Wedding Planner with Matthew McConaughey.
In 2014 she added “author” to her ever-growing list of titles, with the release of her memoir, True Love. In it, she shares one accomplishment that was a real challenge.
Jennifer Lopez decided to do a triathlon
In 2008, during the 8th month of her pregnancy with twins Maximillian and Emme, she decided on a whim that she was going to do a triathlon after their birth. Triathlons require a half-mile swim, an 18-mile bike ride, and finish off with a four-mile run, a grueling event for even the most well-trained athletes.
In Lopez’s memoir, she writes: “Now, understand, I had never done a triathlon before. I had run a 10k when I was 12, but never anything close to a triathlon. On the morning of the race, as I was standing there surrounded by a thousand paparazzi, about to jump into the ocean, I realized that this probably wasn’t the best idea I ever had.”
Indeed her nerves were apparent as she geared up for the race. In video footage from the day of the event, a reporter from SELF Magazine approached her car as she arrived and asked if she had anything to say. Through a half rolled down window Lopez paused for a while and then simply joked, “Pray for me.”
How did Jennifer Lopez do in the triathlon?
Lopez may not be a trained triathlete but she’s no couch potato either. With an active and strict workout regimen and diet, she has managed to stay fit in a way that defies all expectations.
Now at age 50, she hasn’t slowed down, and in September 2008, just months after giving birth to twins, she completed her triathlon.
Her then-husband Marc Anthony was there cheering her on, and despite some setbacks with regards to missing equipment, she did well in the triathlon. Lopez medalled in her division and finished in a respectable 2 hours, 23 minutes and 38 seconds among crowds of adoring fans.
McConaughey and a couple of other celebrities also joined in the fun completing the triathlon that day.
Not only was it a great personal victory, but it was all for a good cause. She shared with the crowd just after the event: “This is an amazing day. I feel really great and so glad I finished and that I made it out of the water, but more amazing than that, I feel really great that we raised $127,000 for the Children’s Hospital [of Los Angeles] and hopefully it’ll go to good use.”
Is there anything this empowering woman can’t do?
