Jayci Simon
| Jayci Simon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | February 13, 2005 St. Johns, Michigan, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 3 ft 9.75 in (116 cm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Women's singles and doubles SH6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Highest ranking | 6 (WS January 7, 2020) 2 (WD June 18, 2024) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current ranking | 14 (WS) 4 (WD) (August 18, 2024) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Jayci Simon (born February 13, 2005) is an American para-badminton player. She is a 2023 Parapan American Games gold medalist in mixed doubles, and 2024 BWF Para-Badminton World Championships bronze medalist in mixed doubles. She will represent the United States at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.
Early life and education
[edit]Simon was born to Chad and Amy Simon.[1] She was diagnosed with acromicric dysplasia, a rare form of dwarfism, at seven years old.[2] She attended St. Johns High School in St. Johns, Michigan.[3]
Career
[edit]Simon competed at the 2017 World Dwarf Games and medaled in all ten of the events she competed in. She won gold medals in doubles badminton, basketball, the 40-meter run, 60-meter run and the 4x40 relay race. She won silver medals in singles badminton, soccer, shot put and discus and won a bronze medal in the javelin throw.[4] She does not have a regular coach or facility to train at.[5]
Simon made her international debut for the United States at the 2018 Pan American Para-Badminton Championships in Lima, Peru, and won a silver medal in women's doubles and a bronze medals in the women's singles and mixed doubles. She competed at the 2019 BWF Para-Badminton World Championships in Basel, Switzerland, and finished in fifth place in women's singles and women's doubles.[6][7]
She competed at the 2022 Pan American Para-Badminton Championships in Cali, Colombia, and won silver medals in the women's singles and mixed doubles.[8] She competed at the 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile, and won a gold medal in mixed doubles and a silver medal in women's singles.[9][10]
On April 3, 2024, she qualified to represent the United States at the 2024 Summer Paralympics, along with her mixed doubles partner Miles Krajewski.[11][12][13]
Achievements
[edit]Parapan American Games
[edit]Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Olympic Training Center, Santiago, Chile |  Miles Krajewski
|
 Justin Kendrick Colleen Cloetta
|
21–5, 21–7 |  Gold
|
 Jonatan Mattos Karina Loyola
|
21–4, 21–4 | ||||
 Nilton Quispe Giuliana Poveda Flores
|
21–18, 21–12 | ||||
| Jesús Salva Rubí Fernández
|
21–10, 21–2 |
Pan Am Championships
[edit]Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Coliseo Alberto León Betancourt, Cali, Colombia |
Miles Krajewski
|
Justin Kendrick Rosa Velasquez
|
21–12, 21–19 |  Silver
|
| Jonatan Mattos Karina Loyola
|
21–15, 21–5 | ||||
| Nilton Quispe Giuliana Poveda Flores
|
9–21, 21–18, 15–21 | ||||
| Jesús Salva Rubí Fernández
|
21–17, 21–17 |
References
[edit]- ^ Tucker, Cody (August 2, 2017). "Little person, big heart: Jayci Simon of St. Johns to represent U.S. at World Dwarf Games". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
- ^ Lacy, Eric (August 14, 2019). "Competitive spirit: 14-year-old athlete Jayci Simon doesn't let dwarfism bring her down". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
- ^ "Jayci Simon - Class of 2023". sjredwings.org. August 13, 2024. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
- ^ Tucker, Cody (August 15, 2017). "St. Johns girl claims 10 medals at World Dwarf Games". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
- ^ Gerstner, Joanne C. (May 23, 2024). "Eye On The Prize: Team USA's Jayci Simon Is An Optician By Day, And Now A Badminton Paralympian". teamusa.com. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
- ^ "Jayci Simon". teamusa.com. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
- ^ Lacy, Eric (August 14, 2019). "Jayci Simon, 14, to face world's best in Para-Badminton Championships in Switzerland". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. Medals at 2022 Pan Am Para-Badminton Championships". usabadminton.org. November 28, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
- ^ "USA Para-Badminton Secures First Gold Medal at ParaPan American Games". usabadminton.org. November 24, 2023. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
- ^ "USA Para-Badminton Wins Gold and Silver on Final Day at Santiago 2023 ParaPan American Games". usabadminton.org. November 26, 2023. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
- ^ "Miles Krajewski and Jayci Simon Invited to Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games". usabadminton.org. April 3, 2024. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
- ^ Shellberg, Russell (April 24, 2024). "St. Johns native Jayci Simon to play in 2024 Paris Paralympics". fox47news.com. WSYM-TV. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
- ^ Mulka, Angela (August 13, 2024). "Meet the 18 Michigan Olympians and Paralympians competing on Team USA in 2024". Big Rapids Pioneer. Retrieved August 19, 2024.