Minneapolis (AFP) – Shilese Jones withdrew from the US Olympic gymnastics trials on Saturday, a day after she injured her left knee on a warm-up vault and had to opt out of three apparatus.
Jones, a world championships bronze medallist last year, landed awkwardly on the vault shortly before competition began and limped off with the help of her coach.
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She returned with her leg taped from thigh to calf and delivered the top parallel bars routine of the night — but she skipped the other apparatus and after further evaluation of the injury, USA Gymnastics said Saturday she would not compete on Sunday.
It’s yet another setback for the 21-year-old Jones in her hunt for a first Olympics berth.
A flare-up of an old shoulder injury saw the two-time world bronze medallist withdraw from the national championships this month and petition for entry to the trials.
She’s one of a trio of gymnasts who came into trials as strong contenders for Olympic spots to be sidelined by injury.
Skye Blakely, a two-time team world champion who finished a strong second to Biles at the US Championships last month, tore the Achilles tendon in her right leg during floor exercise training on Wednesday.
And Kayla DiCello, a 2020 Olympic alternate, ruptured her left Achilles tendon on the first vault of the night on Friday.
“Unfortunately, I ruptured my achilles on the opening event at Olympic Trials,” Di Cello wrote on Instreaming on Saturday. “While this is not the result I envisioned, there’s so much to be proud of. This is not the end of my story.”
© 2024 AFP
