Home/Gymnastics

via Imago

via Imago

At the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, a lot is on the line, including the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The edging game is now live on a global platform in Antwerp, Belgium. Making a comeback from her ‘twisties’ episode two years ago, Biles secured the top spot in two US Gymnastics Championships on her way to the venue. However, the uneven bars champion Shilese Jones continues her streak of dominance into the 2023 World Artistic Championship Qualifiers.

In August, Jones took the lead until Biles’ signature pike vault helped her regain the lead. Simone now appears to be on the verge of losing her reigning position as the American squad leader as chronology appears to have drawn the rankings to a standstill once more. Jones on the other hand has outclassed Biles at the Artistic Championship Qualifiers proving to be a threat to her.

Simone Biles’ threat streak by Shilese Jones

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

The triple elites, Simone Biles, Shilese Jones, and Skye Blakely, are bringing their best performances. Strictly going by their routine scores, a tweet posted by @Gymnastics_Now, gives 14.400 on bars her first exercise. Biles performed a Maloney hurried to piked overall giving a beautiful landing. However, once again Jones upped the notch with her superb landing with 14.833 points.

Posing a threat with Pike Jaeger with a slight miss Skye Blakely took third place with 14.133 on bars. Judging just by the routine scores Jones is in a stricter form after quoting, ?I unfortunately didn?t get credit,?? post Worlds selection camp. Jones received a 55.300 while Biles scored 55.700 in the final standings taking away Jones’ guaranteed all-around win.

READ MORE Has Simone Biles qualified for the Paris Olympics?

During the selection camp, Jones and Biles stood out as protagonists, despite their animosity. Their vault landing execution was simply exceptional; while they battled for position, now in Antwerp, the code of points awaits their move advantage with perfect execution. In Simone’s absence, Shilese took advantage of her mastery of the uneven bars, which is statistically known to be Biles’ weakness. Shilese is the reigning US champion in both 2022 and 2023, as well as the 2021 Winter Cup champion in this apparatus. She continues to dominate in the 2023 World Artistic Championship Qualifiers. Do they parallel potential Olympians on the run as their standing clashes once more?

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Simone Biles vs. Shilese Jones for the 2024 Paris Olympics

Despite winning silver and bronze medals in her previous Olympics, Simone recovered and rose from the ashes. Sunisa Lee, who won the AA gold medal in the Olympics, was quickly ousted by Biles?as the reigning all-around. She won an eight all-around, breaking the 90-year-old AA record, and went on to win the national competitions with a slim edge mainly because of?her exceptional vault routine. Since then, Jones, the former?all-around silver medallist has been chasing the four-time gold Olympian?as she heads to the next Olympics to?keep up her ongoing undefeated streak.

via Getty

After losing a berth at the 2020 Olympics trials, Shilese didn’t plan to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics until after her father’s passing in 2021.?She made her comeback at the national championships in San Jose, California, after a 10-month absence due to injuries post-2022 Worlds. This season she entered in good shape, landing a clean Yurchenko double twist on the vault along with polished moves on the other three apparatuses.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Watch this story With Apprehension for Paris Olympics in Air, Simone Biles Takes Her Next Steps After an Unreal Comeback