US history-making women’s Olympic gymnasts inspiring young hopefuls back home

(CNN) — The most diverse US women’s gymnastics team in history will& begin competing this weekend at the Olympic Games, inspiring younger gymnasts in the process.Four of the five team members are women of color, according to USA Gymnastics, which deemed the team the most diverse in history.But far from Paris, at James Jones Gymnastics Academy (JJGA) in Jonesboro, Georgia, everyone — from the eponymous Jones himself to his gymnasts – are Black.The gym owner and coach said seeing this year’s diverse Olympic team competing at the highest level in a sport where their race has been underrepresented is inspiring.“It makes me feel wonderful,” Jones told CNN. “There are no more tokens. And that’s good. Everyone is there for their merit, and everyone has worked hard to get there. And they’re sharing the spotlight.”Four members from the Tokyo Games are returning: Seven-time Olympic medalist Simone Biles, three-time world medalist and reigning Olympic all-around champion Suni Lee, seven-time world medalist Jade Carey and 2020 Olympic team silver medalist Jordan Chiles. Rookie Hezly Rivera, 16, is the youngest member of Team USA’s delegation, according to USA Gymnastics.Jones said he had also seen the effect this Olympic team was having on his young...