What’s the similarity between Simone Biles’ 2016 Rio Olympics floor exercise performance and Shilese Jones’ 2024 Core Hydration Classic floor exercise performance? In general, both are soothing to the eyes and come from top quality. Furthermore, both exercises led the two gymnasts to prove their mettle when the floors were full of big names. In Rio, Simone Biles had Aly Raisman and in the Core Hydration Classic 2024, Shilese Jones had Simone herself! But other than that, another point was common: the choreographer on both occasions. 

The difference has been visible this time as when Simone Biles took the floor in Hartford with Taylor Swift’s song, Shilese Jones countered her with an instrumental, not a song. The credit goes to the same choreographer. 

A touch of difference in Shilese Jones’ floor routine 

In the Core Hydration Classic this time, Shilese Jones attracted the eyes in her floor exercise routine especially. The routine consisted of thorough watery movements to the tune of instrumental. And the planning of such a wholesome routine was taken up by Dominic Zito, the same individual who planned the US national gymnastics team choreography in Rio.

Eventually, from that team Simone Biles’ floor exercise to the tune of Brazilian Salsa earned her best score in the routine (15.800). In Hartford last week, the same Dominic Zito helped Shilese Jones to get the second-highest score in the routine, chasing Simone Biles only. But what’s the specialty in Zito’s work that makes him a name to remember? 

In his meticulous planning, Zito thoroughly concentrated on Shilese Jones’ body movement at the initial point of her routine. And in the signature movement, he used Shilese Jones’ vault prowess on the floor. By compiling such tumblings, the trainer could gift a memorable performance to the packed house at XL Center. The planning was so perfect that a glitch that could have caused a great deal of problems did not even matter. 

Shilese Jones couldn’t hear the music in her routine at the Core Hydration Classic contest. But because of the flawless execution, it hardly needed the music to accompany it. Notably, the women’s floor is the only Olympic gymnastics event set to music, and gymnasts are judged based on their dancing and choreography. Understandably, music is an important part of that. And Zito has a thought about that. The same was visible in the Rio Olympics when he played a key role. 

Dominic Zito’s unique approach to picking up the music 

“For the choreography, everything needs to be picture-perfect, clear, and exact. [national team coordinator Márta Károlyi  would] love it to be entertaining, too, but she wants those photographic memory moments. And she wants the music to always be recognizable but current, like a piece that maybe was done in 1976 but then covered by a newer musician,” Zito said about deciding on the music in 2016.

Therefore, as per Dominic Zito, in Rio, winning American women’s gymnastics team members did not have the final call to choose the music on their own except Gabby Douglas. The 2012 all-around champion herself chose pop icon Shakira’s song. Simone Biles and others, a team had selected the songs keeping the criteria in mind. Dominic Zito remained in that team and put his views on finalizing the songs. And remember, the person has a choice of his own! 

Dominic Zito doesn’t prefer movie themes or dramatic songs to be played in the floor exercise. Rather, he sides with the characters to make a final decision on the songs. That was the reason when Simone Biles completed her floor exercise in Rio to the tune of Brazilian Salsa, Aly Raisman did hers in Russian folk. The latest example is Shilese Jones, who completed her routine on instrumentals. In planning such choreography, Zito keeps the rule of artistic deductions in his mind. 

As a result, his protégés, Simone Biles or Shilese Jones, did not tumble on their legs at the edge of the platform while doing the routines. And in the future, there is a high chance that Shilese Jones will take the stage against Simone Biles again, doing the floor routine in the choreography set by the legendary mentor. As of now, the possibility of her continuation with Dominic Zito is high.