Gymnastics on the map when she became
the first American to win an individual
all around gold medal at the Olympics.
Since then, Team USA has dominad
with gymnasts like Gabby Dougla,
Simone Biles and SUNY Lee leading the way.
Tonight we introduce you to a gymnast
from Seattle that has a good che
to become a big star in Paris.
Shilese Jones. All the potentia,
the talent has it all come toge.
The journey of an Olympic
athlete can be a long one,
filled with many twists and
turns along the way. The journey
of Seattle native Shilese
Jones first took flight 17 yearo
at the age of four.
I was just doing what every othr
little 4 year old is doing.
Cartwheels, flipping
backflips. My parents were like, you know,
we should put her in gymnastics.
Charlize didn't find success early on,
but she was having fun chasing her dreams.
I mean, I wasn't
the perfect, I wasn't the clean.
I would fall here and there,
but I'm just like, this is fun.
This is what I like to do.
And like I remember making
a little sketch like
I'm going to go to the Olympics, whatever.
Like I had no talent back then.
I had no business saying
that, but like, I just stuck
with it cuz it was super fun. At
the age of 12, Shilese made history at
Nationals. It was a monumental moment.
It's not too often, but I actuay
got a skill named after me, so
one and have twisting
double back on the floor.
So that was a big deal because
competing something so huge
and getting that named after
you in the code of points from
there kind of just blew up
with success come sacrifice.
Chile's wanted to be around
the top gymnast in the country,
so her family relocated to Ohio,
where she trained with elite athletes,
including Olympic champion Gabby Douglas. It
was such amazing to have
that elite atmosphere kind
of just boost my confidence.
My gymnastics was better,
honestly, just having those oldr
girls Olympians to push you.
In 2020, Shilese was named to
the national team, but COVID
pushed the Olympics back a year.
The delay would haunt her Olympic dream.
Before the trial, Shilese
was in a car accident.
She suffered A fractured
back and fractured foot.
The injuries would hamper her training.
She needed four months to recov.
It was a major setback,
but Charlize still competed
and placed 10th overall.
USA Gymnastics sent the top nine to Tokyo.
Just coming that one spot away t
the Olympic Trials was devastat.
Five months later, things got w.
Charlize's dad, Sylvester,
passed away after a long
battle with kidney disease.
My dad is my everything.
He's like my rock kind of looked
up to him though my whole life,
pretty much like he's like, you know,
do the extra number you could like that's
going to set you apart from everyone.
Following her father's passing,
Chaylese was unsure of her futu.
But she knew her dad's dream
was to see her on the Olympic
stage one day.
You know, I was just like, from there,
I was like, what do I do, you k?
Like he always wanted me to come
back and finish where I was kind
of just hearing from everyone.
Like, you know, there's
still more left in you, like,
still continue that journey.
So I just been trying to, you k,
pursue that dream, just not for,
but just for myself, too,
because I have so much to prove.
Patience here. Tall push. Yep.
Let it build and swing tall.
Squeeze up. You're good.
You're good. Big. In January of,
Chalice returned to ascend gymnastics
in Auburn, where her journey be.
Right foot down, right foot dow.
Stay like, flip that hand,
stand up a little bit.
She started working with new cos
Sarah Korngold and Brett Wargo.
Her flexibility and her grace,
you know, her artistry and and
those things just set her apart
that she's just absolutely,
stunningly beautiful to watch.
And her form is so excellent. Ss
also very disciplined.
She's never going to miss a day of gym.
She's going to always want
to take one more turn.
She found her stride and she
believes in herself now and so t
has a good group of people aroud
here that helps support that.
But like, she believes now
that she can do it. Last
year Charlize helped the US win
gold at the World Championships.
She also won a silver in the all
round and on the uneven bars.
It's an unbelievable feeling,
really, to compete for your cou.
Know how hard you've worked over
the years to really, like you s,
have that flag on your hip?
Really just doing it for yourself and
just having your dreams come to reality.
Really. It's just like all the
work I've done is paid off.
Few gymnasts get a second chance
to make their first Olympic tea,
but Jones's journey will take hr
down that path as she now puts
all her focus on Paris. I havent
took a break since I
started at six years old.
It would be an unreal experienc.
Honestly, I'm already blessed
of World Championship,
but I definitely am pushing for more.
Charlize actually turns 21 toda,
but she won't have a lot
of time to celebrate.
The road to Paris won't be easy.
Gabby Douglas and Simone Biles
both recently announced they'll
be returning to competition.
the US Gymnastics Championships
will be in late August.
The US Olympic Team Trials will
be next June in Minneapolis.