Jayci Simon

{{Infobox badminton player

| name = Jayci Simon

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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2005|2|13|mf=y}}

| birth_place = St. Johns, Michigan, U.S.

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| height = 3ft 9.75in

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| event = Women's singles and doubles SH6

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| highest_ranking = 6 (WS January 7, 2020)
2 (WD June 18, 2024)

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| current_ranking = 14 (WS)
4 (WD)

| current_ranking_date = August 18, 2024

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{{Medal|Country|the {{USA}}}}

}}

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 represented the United States at the 2024 Summer Paralympics and won a silver medal in mixed doubles.

Early life and education

Simon was born to Chad and Amy Simon.{{cite web |url=https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports/2017/08/02/little-person-big-heart/531048001/ |title=Little person, big heart: Jayci Simon of St. Johns to represent U.S. at World Dwarf Games |newspaper=Lansing State Journal |first=Cody |last=Tucker |date=August 2, 2017 |access-date=August 19, 2024}} She was diagnosed with acromicric dysplasia, a rare form of dwarfism, at seven years old.{{cite web |url=https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/picture-gallery/sports/2019/08/14/jayci-simon-paralympic-games-dwarfism/2007242001/ |title=Competitive spirit: 14-year-old athlete Jayci Simon doesn't let dwarfism bring her down |newspaper=Lansing State Journal |first=Eric |last=Lacy |date=August 14, 2019 |access-date=August 19, 2024}} She attended St. Johns High School in St. Johns, Michigan.{{cite web |url=https://www.sjredwings.org/our-schools/redwings-to-watch/2023-nominee---jayci-simon/|title=Jayci Simon - Class of 2023 |website=sjredwings.org |date=August 13, 2024 |access-date=August 19, 2024}}

Career

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.{{cite web |url=https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports/2017/08/15/st-johns-girl-claims-10-medals-world-dwarf-games/569604001/ |title=St. Johns girl claims 10 medals at World Dwarf Games |newspaper=Lansing State Journal |first=Cody |last=Tucker |date=August 15, 2017 |access-date=August 19, 2024}} She does not have a regular coach or facility to train at.{{cite web |url=https://www.teamusa.com/news/2024/may/23/eye-on-the-prize-team-usa-s-jayci-simon-is-an-optician-by-day-and-now-a-badminton-paralympian |title=Eye On The Prize: Team USA’s Jayci Simon Is An Optician By Day, And Now A Badminton Paralympian |website=teamusa.com |first=Joanne C. |last=Gerstner |date=May 23, 2024 |access-date=August 19, 2024}}

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.{{cite web |url=https://www.teamusa.com/profiles/jayci-simon |title=Jayci Simon |website=teamusa.com |access-date=August 19, 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports/2019/08/14/jaycisimon-dwarfism-paralympics-badminton/2001736001/ |title=Jayci Simon, 14, to face world's best in Para-Badminton Championships in Switzerland |newspaper=Lansing State Journal |first=Eric |last=Lacy |date=August 14, 2019 |access-date=August 19, 2024}}

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.{{cite web |url=https://usabadminton.org/u-s-medals-at-2022-pan-am-para-badminton-championships/ |title=U.S. Medals at 2022 Pan Am Para-Badminton Championships |website=usabadminton.org |date=November 28, 2022 |access-date=August 19, 2024}} 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.{{cite web |url=https://usabadminton.org/usa-para-badminton-secures-first-gold-medal-at-parapan-american-games/ |title=USA Para-Badminton Secures First Gold Medal at ParaPan American Games |website=usabadminton.org |date=November 24, 2023 |access-date=August 19, 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://usabadminton.org/usa-para-badminton-wins-gold-and-silver-on-final-day-at-santiago-2023-parapan-american-games/ |title=USA Para-Badminton Wins Gold and Silver on Final Day at Santiago 2023 ParaPan American Games |website=usabadminton.org |date=November 26, 2023 |access-date=August 19, 2024}}

On April 3, 2024, she qualified to represent the United States at the 2024 Summer Paralympics, along with her mixed doubles partner Miles Krajewski.{{cite web |url=https://usabadminton.org/miles-krajewski-and-jayci-simon-invited-to-paris-2024-summer-paralympic-games/ |title=Miles Krajewski and Jayci Simon Invited to Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games |website=usabadminton.org |date=April 3, 2024 |access-date=August 19, 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.fox47news.com/neighborhoods/dewitt-st-johns/st-johns-native-jayci-simon-to-play-in-2024-paris-paralympics |title=St. Johns native Jayci Simon to play in 2024 Paris Paralympics |website=fox47news.com |publisher=WSYM-TV |first=Russell |last=Shellberg |date=April 24, 2024 |access-date=August 19, 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bigrapidsnews.com/news/article/who-are-michigan-paralympians-on-team-usa-2024-19654322.php |title=Meet the 18 Michigan Olympians and Paralympians competing on Team USA in 2024 |work=Big Rapids Pioneer |first=Angela |last=Mulka |date=August 13, 2024 |access-date=August 19, 2024}}