After Almost Defeating Simone Biles, Shilese Jones Nowhere to Be Seen

Shilese Jones made a remarkable comeback to gymnastics at the 2023 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships. She came very close to defeating the gymnastics GOAT Simone Biles, finishing just a few points behind her. Jones earned a well-deserved silver medal and inspired everyone with her resilience. She overcame many personal losses to make it back to the sport to the amazement of all.

Shilese Jones had faced one adversity after another in recent years. She lost her father to kidney disease in 2021 and this affected her performance in the U.S. Olympic trials. It was her father?s dream to see Shilese compete in the Olympic Games. She is now in a relentless pursuit to achieve this dream in the 2024 Paris Olympics, which is why everyone had expected her to join the National Training Camp.

What kept Shilese Jones from National gymnastics training camp?

The Stars Gymnastics in Katy, Texas, saw the who?s who of the gymnastics world assemble under one roof. Both junior and senior athletes of the U.S. women?s national team were present at the training camp. This camp held special significance for all the gymnasts as the first of its kind in 2023. Hence, it was crucial for Shilese Jones to attend and showcase her skills. Even Simone Biles was in the same camp training for the National Championships a month ago. But, the all-around silver medalist chose not to attend and instead focussed on fulfilling her other commitments. According to Gymnastics Now, Shilese was busy with a photoshoot for a major apparel brand.

Shilese Jones and Sylvia P go way back and have always supported each other. Jones had ditched the training camp to honor her commitments to them. After she lost the all-around gold to Simone Biles, the company sent an email to all their subscribers saying, ?A huge SP Congrats to our newest ambassador, Shilese Jones on her results at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships?. But fans are worried that missing out on this training camp had affected her performance against Simone Biles.

Shilese Jones and Simone Biles in intense battle

Simone Biles had more than a 3-point lead over Shilese Jones after Day Two?s first rotation at the 2023 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships. The intense competition between them continued but Simone Biles did not give up her lead. At the end of the championships, Biles was the clear winner with 118.450 points in total. Shilese gave the gymnastics GOAT a tough competition and inspired hope as the second-place finisher (114.550 points) in the all-around event.

Read More: After Sitting Out on Simone Biles Comeback, Shilese Jones Threatens the Legend?s Shot at 90-Year Old Record

Now, her fans are wondering if Shilese Jones could have profited more if she had attended the training camp. Nevertheless, she remains a strong contender for a medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics, which is her ultimate goal.

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