Shilese Jones and Simone Biles represented America at the world gymnastics championships in Antwerp. However, on the national stage, the two women have kept each other on their toes all year. Right from the 2023 Core Hydration Classic to the 2023 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships and even the 2023 Worlds and Pan Am Games Selection Camp, Biles narrowly edged past Shilese to secure back-to-back first-place wins. This trend was followed at the World Championship as well; however, this time the two were contending for the same team.
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Shilese Jones breaks her silence on Simone Biles
In an interview with Today, Shilese Jones was the guest host. She spoke about many aspects of her life that made her wins possible at Antwerp. She opened up about her dad’s death and his influence on her life. However, one moment stood out when the interviewer asked Shilese about her friendship and camaraderie with her teammate Biles. To this, she replied, “Honestly, she is so inspiring. You know, to have someone older in the gymnastics community and to go out there and hit routine after routine meant so much. Honestly, to have The GOAT out there, as she calls herself, is just unreal to be up there on the podium with her”
What was surprising is that Shi was even shocked that the gymnastics queen herself was nervous, like she was. However, she said that “just to have her back and compete with her on the world stage meant so much.” What’s even more heartwarming are the visuals that played during the interview.
The friendship behind the competition
The visuals and slides in the interview showed Biles and Jones and all the beautiful, joyous moments they shared together in Antwerp. From candid shots of them sharing inside jokes and laughing to them congratulating each other’s wins and hugging each other. What also surprised many fans was when videos and pictures of the two flooded online. The two legends were spotted hugging and joking with each other and were constantly seen having conversations on the gymnastics floor.
Even images of standing beside Shi in a group photo were shared by Biles, and the two seemed to get along like close friends. Interestingly, this friendship also goes way back. In the past, during The Gold Over America Tour in 2021, which was headlined by Biles, Shilese, who was mentored by the legend, said, “I am thrilled and grateful to be part of Gold Over America and to help elevate women’s gymnastics with my dear friend Simone”.
Fast forward to 2023, and both athletes have marked their names in the hearts of gymnastics fans who hope they will continue to be pushed to newer heights by each other and make it to the grand stage of the Paris Olympics in 2024.
