Rising as Simone Biles’ Competition, Shilese Jones Joins Designer Worth Over $7.5 Billion to Cheer for Another Legend at US Open

Simone Biles is a force to be reckoned with. Clinching her 8th US title claim at the Championship in California, Biles has unlocked another achievement. Clocking a record time of 118.450s, she crushed the 90-year-old record of Alfred Jochim. With her phenomenal display on the mat, the GOAT stiffened her position. But there was another gymnast who stood tall with a bag of skills. Shilese Jones, the star in the making, has proved her worth with the 114.550s silver at the 2023 US Gymnastics Championships. Finishing as the national runner-up right behind Simone Biles, Jones shone with a series of strong routines.

Shilese’s journey from bagging silver from 2022 World Championships to 2023 Gymnastics Championships was full of hardships. Threatening Simone’s golden crown, the 21-year-old gymnast grabbed the spotlight for emerging as a warrior. In a recent Instagram story, she shared another fan-girl moment of an American tennis player.

Simone Biles’ competitor at the US Open

The 2023 US Open Tennis Championships are underway, entertaining a stadium full of tennis enthusiasts. The tennis prodigy Coco Gauff has clinched her first-ever US Open semifinal at just 19. Dodging opponents and remaining solid throughout, Coco has been strict with her goals. In all of her matches, enabling her to reach the Quarter final, Gauff had swung the momentum in her favor.

Ralph Lauren, the $7.5 billion-worth designer,  invited Shi’ to witness Coco making history. Therefore, fan-girl Jones placed her bet on Gauff for the win. Her story features a snippet of the match that she recorded. The caption says, “@cocogauff is the GOAT(with a goat emoji and a brown heart)”. She also laid out her heartfelt gratitude to Ralph for the invite, saying, “Thanks @ralphlauren for inviting me to my first @usopen”. 

The emotions in the stories assert Shi’s love for tennis, besides her dedication to gymnastics. Otherwise, being the smallest competitor at the Athletic Championships might have shaken her confidence. However, she displayed indomitable spirit during her comeback, even alongside Simone Biles.

Shilese Jones, the survivor

Jones was on a 10-month-long hiatus before making her comeback at the US Classic. Facing a series of injuries in October and the loss of her father in December, it’s truly remarkable to have witnessed her compete. On the contrary, she appeared completely absorbed in her routines during practice. Shilese Jones doesn’t let the size of the competition bother her. In several candid conversations, she has confirmed her commitment to always bring her A-game. Shi showcased unwavering dedication to her craft, challenging Biles’ dominant reign.

READ MORE: “He’ll Either Be Cut or Fined”: Simone Biles’ Husband Jonathan Owens Forced to Miss Her Biggest Comeback Due to NFL

Shilese’s presence at the US Open to congratulate another emerging athlete was a once-in-a-lifetime moment. The cross-sport bond between a tennis player and a gymnast demonstrated the importance of camaraderie above all else.

Watch this story:  Days Before Her Grand Return Simone Biles Behind-the-Scenes Video Showcases a Powerful Fall