Current:Home > Contact-usAfter nationals scratch, Shilese Jones no longer in pain ahead of Olympic trials-InfoLens
After nationals scratch, Shilese Jones no longer in pain ahead of Olympic trials
View Date:2024-12-23 15:26:54
MINNEAPOLIS — Shilese Jones is no longer feeling pain in her injured shoulder and "feels pretty good" ahead of this week's U.S. Olympic gymnastics trials, her coach Sarah Korngold said Wednesday.
Jones, who has established herself the United States' top female gymnast outside of Simone Biles, withdrew from the U.S. championships about a month ago but successfully petitioned USA Gymnastics for her spot at trials, which begin Friday. She has been dealing with a small tear in her right labrum for approximately two years, Korngold said, and growing pain ahead of nationals led her to withdraw and take a week off as a precaution.
"We've slowly been building back up into routines. So she's been doing her full routines," Korngold said Wednesday. "Obviously we don't have as many repetitions as maybe we would like, but her body's feeling good and so we still feel like we made the right decision. And we have a couple more workouts here to keep going. So that's where we're at."
Jones participated in podium training Wednesday morning but did not speak with reporters afterwards. She has won a combined six medals at the past two world championships, including all-around silver in 2022 and all-around bronze in 2023.
Korngold, who has coached the 21-year-old since 2022, said Jones has been able to manage the injury over time but felt "a lot of pain" at nationals, prompting her withdrawal. The medical staff said Jones' shoulder issue hadn't gotten structurally worse, but the concern was that pushing through the pain and inflammation could make matters worse ahead of trials. They consulted USA Gymnastics before scratching and filing their petition, Korngold added.
"She wants to compete, she wants to show people that she's earning this and not trying to like skate through," Korngold said. "We just all explained to her that you have earned it, these petition procedures are here for a reason and you meet all this criteria and those were lined up exactly for a situation like this. So in no way are we circumventing the system. This is literally why this is here."
Alicia Sacramone Quinn and Chellsie Memmel, who oversee the U.S. women's program, said they supported Jones' decision.
"It really came down to what is going to give her the best opportunity at Olympic trials to go out and make the team," said Memmel, the technical lead of the women's program. "And then if she does make the team, be able to withstand the length of training and time that goes in to competing at the Olympic Games. It was really weighing was going to give her the best opportunity to make her goals."
Korngold said that while Jones is not in pain now, the shoulder injury can have wide-ranging impacts on her performances when it flares up like it did a few weeks ago. It affects her tumbling, vaulting, back handsprings on balance beam and pirouettes on uneven bars − which has traditionally been Jones' strongest event.
Thankfully, Korngold said, the biggest issue entering this week isn't pain management but routine endurance.
"We don't have enough repetitions and because we were building up from a pretty significant rest, we couldn't just go zero to 100. We had to build back up (in) parts and halves and whatever," Korngold said. "Hopefully she's proven enough to the selection committee that she does build fitness quickly, she does get in routine shape fairly fast and we have more time (ahead of Paris)."
The Olympic women's gymnastics team will be named following the second night of competition Sunday. The Games begin July 26.
Contact Tom Schad at [email protected] or on social media @Tom_Schad.
veryGood! (8)
Related
- Mike Tyson-Jake Paul: How to watch the fight, time, odds
- 'This is his franchise': Colts name rookie Anthony Richardson starting QB for 2023
- NFL's highest-paid RBs: See full list of 2023 running back salary rankings
- Tuohy Family Lawyer Slams The Blind Side Subject Michael Oher's Lawsuit as Shakedown Effort
- 'Cowboy Carter' collaborators to be first country artists to perform at Rolling Loud
- Museum to honor Navajo Code Talkers is about $40 million shy of reality
- You can now visit a rare snake that has 2 heads, 2 brains and 1 uncoordinated body at a Texas zoo
- Tuohy family responds to Michael Oher's allegations that they faked adoption for millions: We're devastated
- Fantasy football Week 11: Trade value chart and rest of season rankings
- The Blind Side Subject Sean Tuohy Breaks Silence on Michael Oher’s Adoption Allegations
Ranking
- John Robinson, successful football coach at USC and with the LA Rams, has died at 89
- Inside Jennifer Lawrence's New Life as a Mom
- Angelina Jolie Hires Teen Daughter Vivienne Jolie-Pitt as Her Assistant on Broadway
- Soldier accused of killing combat medic wife he reported missing in Alaska
- Rare Alo Yoga Flash Sale: Don’t Miss 60% Off Deals With Styles as Low as $5
- Keke Palmer Ushers in Her Bob Era With Dramatic New Hairstyle
- Shania Twain to return to Las Vegas for third residency in 2024
- Spain scores late to edge Sweden 2-1 in World Cup semifinal
Recommendation
-
Arbitrator upholds 5-year bans of Bad Bunny baseball agency leaders, cuts agent penalty to 3 years
-
Homeowners were having issues with hot water tank before deadly blast in Pennsylvania, officials say
-
Massive explosion at gas station in Russia’s Dagestan kills 30, injures scores more
-
Auto parts maker Shinhwa plans $114M expansion at Alabama facility, creating jobs
-
Shocked South Carolina woman walks into bathroom only to find python behind toilet
-
Andy Taylor of Duran Duran says prostate cancer treatment will 'extend my life for five years'
-
Celebs' Real Names Revealed: Meghan Markle, Jason Sudeikis, Emma Stone and More
-
California teen's mother says body found in Los Gatos park is her missing child