[EXCLUSIVE] Shilese Jones’ Coach Outlined Olympic Trial Plans Before Gymnast Withdrew From 2024 Xfinity Championship

Shilese Jones made the difficult decision to withdraw from the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in order to prioritize the healing of her sore shoulder. With her sights set on the upcoming Olympic trials in Minneapolis, Jones aims to ensure she competes at her peak performance level. Having played a significant role in securing team gold for the U.S. at both the 2022 and 2023 World Championships, her absence from the Championships is a notable development in the gymnastics world. In a statement preceding the competition in Fort Worth, Texas, Jones expressed her disappointment at not being able to participate in this year’s Xfinity Championships.

Prior to her withdrawal, Jones’ coach, in an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, underscored the meticulous planning in progress to refine Jones’ training regimen. When the host, Shreya Verma, inquired about expectations for Shilese Jones,, “What should the fans expect? Any beans you can spill for us? Anything new, exciting we can expect? The coach unveiled a strategic approach aimed at solidifying Jones’ position in the upcoming Paris Olympics.

Sarah Korngold reflected on the whirlwind journey from the classics, acknowledging the rapid pace and extensive travel that characterized their recent endeavors. “The turnaround from classics was really quick for us, and that involved a lot of travel as well. We were only home for about five days in the gym, which wasn’t a ton of time to get anything done.”

Despite the brevity of their time at home, both coach and athlete shared a resolute commitment to maximizing every moment for improvement. Their aspirations were focused, with Korngold emphasizing, “So I think the big goal this weekend would be for her to turn her dismount. I think that’s, you know, we’re both pretty, we want that to happen. There’s a couple of changes on Beam that could happen, but Beam always comes down to how training is going, how confident she feels and that.”

Undeterred by the time constraints, Korngold outlined a strategic plan aimed at elevating performance levels while judiciously managing resources. “And then we’ll train, the plan is to train an upgraded floor pass, but not complete it for this meet, but hopefully get it in for trials. We just didn’t have enough time to up our endurance between classics and championships. And by our endurance, I didn’t up any endurance.” This deliberate approach underscores their dedication to methodical progress, recognizing the importance of skill refinement and conditioning while navigating the demanding landscape of competitive gymnastics. However, we are sure she will be fit until trials and will show her outstanding performance as we saw in U.S.Classics.

Shilese Jones emerges as a key contender at Core Hydration Classic

Last month, at the Core Hydration Classic, Jones firmly established herself as a standout for Team USA, closely trailing behind the formidable Simone Biles. Her stellar performance secured her a second-place finish in the all-around competition and a triumphant victory on the uneven bars. As anticipation builds for the upcoming Olympic Trials, scheduled for June 27-30 in Minneapolis, the spotlight shines on the athletes vying for coveted spots on the U.S. gymnastics team bound for Paris.

Jones has firmly stated her ambition to compete at the pinnacle of her sport by declaring her plan to submit a petition to USA Gymnastics, aiming for inclusion in the Olympic Trials. If her petition is granted, she will join the top two performers from the U.S. Championships in the all-around event, who earn direct entries. Additional participants for the Olympic Trials will be selected by a committee after the Championships, underscoring the demanding path and intense competition involved in the quest for Olympic success.