The first day of competition in Minneapolis included an emotional ovation for the injured Skye Blakely.
MINNEAPOLIS — Nearly all the fans packed inside the arena rose, not to celebrate a highflying skill during the gymnastics Olympic trials but to show their empathy. The ovation was long and loud, and the 19-year-old standing under the massive video board had tears welling up as she alternated between waving to the crowd and bringing her hand to her chest.
Shilese Jones, the second-best all-around gymnast in the country, has been dealing with a shoulder issue, and then in warmup before the first day of competition began Friday night, she appeared to suffer a leg injury while practicing a vault. Jones performed only on bars — earning the top score of the evening on the apparatus — but with her health in question, her Olympic hopes appear uncertain. Like Blakely, Jones entered the trials as a favorite to earn a spot on the Olympic team.
The meet continued without complete performances from three of the top contenders. Simone Biles leads by a wide margin with an all-around score of 58.900. Biles capped the evening with her difficult Yurchenko double pike vault that bears her name. She soared and controlled her landing. This time, the fans rose to celebrate an impressive performance. Biles scored a massive 15.975 for that vault, the best mark she has earned this Olympic cycle.
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