Shilese Jones‘ path to her inaugural Olympic stage is a resilient odyssey, woven with determination, tragedy, and the dream of her late father, Sylvester Jones. The road to Tokyo was fraught with adversity for Shi Jones, marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, a severe car accident, and the loss of her father due to a kidney disease. Despite these trials, she missed clinching a spot on the Tokyo gymnastics roster by a mere fraction, securing 10th place. But setbacks only fueled her resolve, propelling her toward her Paris Olympics 2024 dream.

In a mere three years, she racked up 6 World Championship medals and even the formidable Simone Biles on her toes. However, just before the Olympic trials, Shilese Jones encountered a setback, withdrawing from the 2024 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships due to a shoulder injury. With the heightened pressure of injuries and the imperative for extra caution, Jones’s coach, Sarah Korngold, teeters on the brink, ensuring her protégé Shi is poised to fulfill her dream.

In an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, the esteemed coach opened up about the stress surrounding Shilese Jones’s journey, saying, “It’s like, it’s, it’s hard to explain, honestly. Obviously, it’s close to Paris and she’s doing a really good job and she’s so close to reaching her goal. And so that’s amazing. And then on the other side, it’s so close to Paris and so everything’s stress, right?” Throughout Shilese’s journey, Sarah Korngold has been a steadfast presence, supporting her through thick and thin, from the loss of her father to her triumphant moments on the world stage.

Reflecting on the challenges, Korngold shared, “You don’t want to do too little. You don’t want to do too much,” since there is so much at stake at the Olympics. However, some things are just beyond human control. “You don’t want to get sick. You don’t like, so like all those little things that you can’t even necessarily control, become a little more scary, I guess. Not scary, but. Yeah, so it’s like very, very exciting, but also very, very stressful for me,” she told EssentiallySports. As we ponder these words, it becomes apparent that this stress and caution led Korngold and Shilese Jones to withdraw from the 2024 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships.

How Sarah Korngold took a smart decision despite Shilese Jones’ resistance

Shilese Jones showed her exceptional talent in her season debut at the 2024 Core Hydration Classic, securing the silver medal behind Simone Biles. However, shortly after her Floor Exercise routine, Shilese shared with Olympics.com, “Right after I got off the floor [there], I didn’t hear click, I didn’t hear any pops, nothing major. I was just like, ‘Oh, my shoulder’s a little sore.’ And, then, I was like, ‘No, it’s really sore’.” This unfortunate turn of events led to her decision to sit out the 60th edition of the U.S. National Gymnastics Championships.

In response to this withdrawal, Shilese Jones’s coach, Sarah Korngold, candidly expressed her thoughts, stating in an interview with GymCastic, “If this had been Olympic trials, we would have competed this weekend. Her shoulder hurts, but it’s structurally sound, and medically they said she could go.” However, despite Shilese’s disappointment, Korngold stressed the potential long-term consequences of pushing through such inflammation and decided for her well-being, even if it left her feeling “mad” about the outcome.

Despite this setback, the Athlete Selection Committee has approved petitions from both Shilese Jones and Kaliya Lincoln to advance to the Olympic Trials. With Shilese back at a full circle moment, hoping to redeem herself from the setback and disappointment she faced three years ago, the partnership between Sarah Korngold and Shilese Jones stands out.

Now, as Shilese inches closer to Paris 2024, she is aiming to reclaim herself from the setback she endured three years ago. With the support and strategic guidance of Coach Sarah Korngold, she stands on the brink of realizing her Olympic dream. What are your thoughts on their inspiring partnership? Share in the comments below!