Shilese Jones withdrew from the US Olympic gymnastics trials on Saturday due to a left knee injury sustained during a warm-up vault the previous day. Initially hoping to compete despite the injury, Jones opted out of three apparatus events after landing awkwardly and limping off the vault with assistance from her coach. Although she returned with her leg taped for the parallel bars routine, she decided to withdraw following further evaluation by USA Gymnastics.

This setback adds to Jones's challenges in her quest for a first Olympic appearance. Earlier, she had to skip the national championships due to a shoulder injury but petitioned for entry into the trials. Alongside Jones, Skye Blakely, a top contender who tore her Achilles tendon in training, and Kayla DiCello, who ruptured her Achilles during the trials, also faced injury-induced setbacks.

Despite these obstacles, Jones and her fellow gymnasts remain resilient. DiCello expressed determination to move forward despite her injury, emphasizing that this setback does not define her career.