American hurdler Lolo Jones has apologized for an unintentionally insensitive Twitter response to Eric LeGrand, a paralyzed former Rutgers football player.

After LeGrand jokingly challenged Jones to a race, Jones answered with: "Get checked for a concussion. Clearly you've been hit in the head ... (because) you aren't beating a track athlete.

When told LeGrand was paralyzed because of injuries suffered in a football game in 2010, Jones felt remorseful. She said she was unaware of LeGrand's situation and was responding to what she thought was playful trash talk.

"I'm truly sorry if I offended anyone by my tweet," Jones said Wednesday.

LeGrand said he didn't take it personally and asked people to stop bashing Jones.

Jones placed fourth in the 100-metre hurdles at the London Olympics.