In boxing, as in life, when you fall, you get up again. Perhaps no one knows that better than 21-year-old Omari Jones. “I feel like I've been beaten up so many times in my life, certainly in the ring, but also outside of the ring,” Jones says. “I had to overcome every hurdle in life to achieve my dreams.” Jones stepped into the ring at age 8 and was still here 13 years later, as an Olympian. “Someone sent me the odds of an American becoming an Olympian, and it's a very, very low number,” Jones says. “To have my name listed with all the greats that have been Olympians before me and are Olympians now, it's like I'm writing my chapter in history right now.” Jones, an Orlando native, took up boxing after a stint in karate. He loved the contact and discipline that boxing offered. But it wasn't until he was a teenager that he realized the sport was becoming more than just a hobby. “That's when I started saying, 'OK, I'm going to the Olympics,' and stuff like that,” Jones says. He started training two or three times a day, competing in national tournaments and earning a spot on the U.S. national team. All of this happened while he was still in high school. “It was a sacrifice to pursue it for 13 years,” Jones said. “I missed prom, I missed parties, I missed a lot of events, I missed my family because I was always away from home.” The sacrifices were always worth it because he knew the rewards. It all paid off this March when he beat India's Nishant Dev at the World Qualifier in Italy. Paris 2024 was in his sights. “My first thought was, I did it,” Jones said. “I yelled into the camera, 'I told you guys,'” he said. “And I yelled. I let out all the stress and effort I'd put into proving to myself first before proving to anyone else that my goals and dreams were possible,” Jones said. Jones's innermost message is to never give up and never get down. “For the kids in Orlando and kids around the world watching, it's the same thing: Anything is possible if you try,” said Jones, who is bidding to become the first American boxer in the last 20 years to take home a medal.
In boxing, as in life, you fall down and you get up again, and perhaps no one knows that better than 21-year-old Omari Jones.
“I feel like I've been hit so many times in life, in the ring and out of the ring,” Jones said. “I've had to overcome all the hurdles in life to achieve my dreams.”
Jones stepped into the ring at just 8 years old and was still here 13 years later, but he stood there as an Olympian.
“Someone sent me the percentage of how often Americans become Olympians, and it's a very, very low number,” Jones said. “And now that they're doing it, I'm kind of writing my own chapter in history right now.”
The Orlando native became interested in boxing after a stint in karate, as he loved the contact and discipline it brought.
But it wasn't until he was a teenager that he realised the sport was becoming more than just a hobby.
“That's when I started saying things like, 'Okay, let's try to qualify for the Olympics,'” Jones said.
He began training two or three times a day, began competing in national competitions, and began to attract the attention of Team USA.
All of this happened while he was still in high school.
“It was a sacrifice to pursue it for 13 years,” Jones said. “I missed prom, I missed parties and a lot of events, I missed my family because I was away from home all the time.”
The sacrifice was always worth it because he knew the reward.
That dream came true in March this year when Jones defeated India's Nishant Deb in the world qualifiers in Italy. The 2024 Paris Games are now in his sights.
“My first thought was, I've done it,” Jones said.
“I yelled into the camera, 'I told everyone,' and I just yelled and let out all of the stress and effort I'd put into proving to myself first before proving to anyone else that your goals and dreams are concrete,” Jones said.
At his core is the message Jones always wanted to live by: never quit, never get down.
“For the kids in Orlando and the kids around the world watching, it was the same for them: Anything is possible if you try,” Jones said.
Jones is aiming to become the first American boxer in the past 20 years to return home with a medal.
