The 2023 XFinity Gymnastics Championships ended with Simone Biles solidifying her GOAT status. But there was one name that stood tall amid Biles’ triumph: Shilese Jones. She rose to prominence with the Pan American Championships in 2018 and grabbed the spotlight when the US team became the world champion in 2022. She also bagged individual silver medals in all-around and uneven bars at the 2022 World Championships. Her journey to this triumphant feat was never easy, and she went through some major setbacks in her life.

She sustained multiple injuries during her journey and had to go through the heartbreaking loss of her father in December. He passed away after a long battle with kidney disease. But she came out of all the adversities like a warrior and posed a threat to Simone Biles’s title win. However, she did not win the title and lost by the barest of margins but still managed to secure a silver with her dedication and unparalleled skills. Her remarkable performance also led to a notable gymnastics achievement.

Shilese Jones attains a noteworthy Gymnastics position

21-year-old Jones has secured a spot on the 2023 Senior U.S. Women’s National Gymnastics Team. She is on the same team as Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, Skye Blakely, Leanne Wong, etc. The news was shared by The Gymternet on their official X handle (formerly Twitter). She won the silver at the San Jose Gymnastics event with a score of 114.550 and lost to Biles, who grabbed the gold with a total score of 118.450. Even though Jones missed the chance to stand atop the podium, she was the one who gave a hard time to current champion Biles.

In the day 1 score at the midway point, there was a tie between Biles and Jones with scores of 29.250. Biles started off with the beam and floor, while Jones began with the vault and uneven bars. Post-conclusion of Day 1, Biles stood at 59.300, while Jones was falling short with 2.55 points and was able to post a score of 56.750. She gave a neck-to-neck competition to Biles despite coming back after the injuries.

Shi’s commitment and perseverance

Shi Jones made a comeback after a 10-month hiatus from the sport, and she looked confident during the practice sessions. She was coming back after recovering from a torn labrum in her shoulder and a nagging ankle issue, which she sustained in October.

On her return, Jones said that she was strict with herself, even after knowing that she was the smallest competitor, but she wanted everything to be perfect. She also added that she takes every competition seriously, irrespective of the results, and that dedication was displayed at the ongoing event as well.

Read More: After Being Judged Unfairly for Vault, Simone Biles Opens Nights With Dangerous Look