EXCLUSIVE: Shilese Jones Coach Addresses Injury Risk at 2024 Xfinity Gymnastics Championship: “Can Get Hurt”

Three Black women climbed the podium in Hartford’s 2024 Core Hydration Classic, leading up to the US Olympic trials in late June. Among them was Shilese Jones, spurred by the support of her late father, who died after battling a debilitating kidney disease in 2021. The “big fighter” was encouraged by her father to train even harder for Paris and declared, “It wouldn’t just be for me and my team, but also for my dad.” The next stop led the 21-year-old gymnast to Seattle to pursue her ambition of making an Olympic debut.

While Gabby Douglas was forced to leave her Paris dreams following the Core Hydration Classic, Shilese Jones sustained a right shoulder injury but continued preparing for her French capital performance—Jones’s coach supports her lofty aspirations and declared that the gymnast has no plans to end her winning streak who participated in an exclusive interview with Essentially Sports.

The constant rock behind Shilese Jones’ “fighter” mindset

The exemplary gymnast from Seattle, Shilese Jones, is considered the second best thing to make the Olympic team this year, after Simone Biles, of course. Jones took part in the rigorous practice ahead of the U.S. Gymnastics Championships on May 29 in Fort Worth, Texas. The six-time world medalist’s coach, Sarah Korngold, spoke in an exclusive interview with Essentially Sports and its host Shreya Verma ahead of the competition about the risk of injury from the Core Hydration Classic. Korngold said, “The negative is you can get hurt. It’s a long week, a lot of training and a lot of competing. But she’s done it many times and she knows her body and she knows what she’s capable of.”

Jones finished second in the all-around with 57.650 points at the Core Hydration Classic, behind Simone Biles. In addition, she won gold on uneven bars and silver on the floor exercise. This was her second appearance on the podium alongside Biles, mirroring her finish at the 2023 World Championship in Antwerp. The depth of the Classic field also featured 2012 Olympic all-around champion Gabby Douglas, who had returned to the sport after an eight-year absence.

Jones has had a difficult 18 months after capturing the world all-around silver medal in the 2022 World’s. However, she missed over ten months due to shoulder and ankle issues, which she shared upon her comeback in August at the US Championships. “I’m just trying to get over a shoulder and a foot injury right now.” Meanwhile, Sarah Korngold told Olympics.com, “So it’s really cool to watch someone take charge and own their gymnastics; she’s doing this 100 percent for her.” Sarah Korngold and Shilese Jones complement one other’s professional ambition to achieve new heights, as evidenced by her years of gymnastics achievement.

Dominating the gymnastics mats, a la the Shilese Jones way

After losing her father and missing out on the Olympics dream in 2021, Shilese swept the competition the next year. She helped lead her team to the World Gymnastics Championships in 2022 and 2023, winning individual silver and bronze medals in the all-around and uneven bars. She also became the US uneven bars champion in 2023. Jones returned to gymnastics for the first time since the 2023 World Championships, at the 2024 U.S. Classic in Hartford, Connecticut.

Aside from adding some new skills, Jones revealed that she and coach Korngold aim to be close to shining in next month’s U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Minneapolis. The U.S. Classic has no direct impact on who makes the United States Olympic team in Paris. However, the results at nationals determine who will be invited to the Olympic trials, which will be held in Minneapolis from June 27 to 30.