U.S. gymnast Jade Carey talks candidly about her path, her favourite Olympic memory, and her choice to stand back and evaluate her gymnastics career in an exclusive interview.

A Pivotal Moment in Tokyo

Jade Carey’s favourite Olympic memory isn’t the moment she stood atop the podium, nor her gold-medal victory in the women’s floor final at the Tokyo 2020 Games in 2021. Instead, it comes from a quiet, emotional exchange that took place off the competition floor during the Tokyo Games.

“I remember when everything was happening with Simone [Biles in Tokyo], and I was maybe going into the all-around final. I was freaking out because I’d never done anything like that before,” Carey shared. “Simone came to my room and was like, ‘Hey, I can’t do this, but you can.’”

This brief, yet powerful encounter had a lasting impact on Carey. “That was just a really powerful moment for me because I knew how much she was going through and for her to still come over and be like, ‘You got this,’ meant a lot to me because I can only imagine how hard it was for her to have to sit that out.” Carey adds, “That’s something I’ll always remember.”

Team USA’s Redemption Tour in Paris

The bond that formed between Carey and Biles in Tokyo would shape the United States' gymnastics team three years later in Paris. Heading into the 2024 Paris Olympics, Team USA entered with a clear sense of purpose: to complete what they termed their "redemption tour."

“I got to be part of the team… and share more of the common goal that we had to bring home a team gold,” said Carey. The team’s unity and shared motivation led to an impressive victory. Carey, along with fellow Olympians Simone Biles, Suni Lee, and Jordan Chiles, helped propel Team USA to their third team gold in four Olympics, with an almost six-point lead over their closest rivals.

Carey believes their collective drive made all the difference: “I truly think there was nothing or no one that could get in our way because we all had it on our minds for three full years of what we wanted to do and how we were going to do it.”

The team won the gold medal and cemented their position in gymnastics history in spite of obstacles, such as a stomach ailment that afflicted Carey and her father, coach Brian Carey.

Getting Past Obstacles and Identifying Moments

Carey's Olympic experience has been characterised by her capacity to overcome personal obstacles in addition to her triumphs. She lost the chance to defend her title in Tokyo because of a medical sickness that left her exhausted and unable to give her best effort in the floor exercise. “Floor was really disappointing because I worked so hard and had a lot of expectations for myself,” Carey admits. “It was just something I couldn’t control, being sick and being so weak after throwing up and not being able to eat.”

Carey's perseverance, nevertheless, paid off in other ways as she won a bronze in vault and assisted the team in winning a gold medal. Thinking back on the encounter, she adds, “It’s a little easier for me to let go, I think because I’ve been through it before.”

Despite setbacks, Carey’s mindset remains focused on what lies ahead. “Right when Paris ended, it kind of sounded like something that was a possibility,” Carey said, hinting at the possibility of participating in the 2025 World Championships in Jakarta.

A Pause to Reflect on the Future

After an extraordinary college gymnastics career, where she never recorded a score below 9.800, Carey has decided to take a break from elite gymnastics. "I think after having the college season and just having so much fun and only focusing on that, I didn’t wanna do this summer because I wanted to end on just being able to focus on college gymnastics and take a break," Carey explains.

She acknowledges that taking time off could be crucial for her future in the sport: "If 2028 was something that I wanted to go for, maybe taking 2025 off would just help my body and mind relax a little more."

While Carey is not ruling out a third Olympic appearance, she remains uncertain about her future. “Honestly, I have no idea. I do, every once in a while, feel like maybe there is more to give.”

For now, Carey is focused on rest and reflection. “This summer, I definitely wanna go on vacation since that’s been a really long time coming for me, just be able to go away, relax, unplug, and just truly take my mind away from gymnastics,” she says.

A Legacy in the Making

Jade Carey has already left a significant mark on gymnastics, both at the collegiate and Olympic levels. As she takes a break to reflect on her future, she remains proud of all she has accomplished. "I have had such an amazing career in elite and college gymnastics. I’m super happy with and proud of myself," she says.

For now, Carey is standing still, taking time to assess where she stands and where her next step may lead. "Right now, I’m taking time and going to see where things end up," she says. "So, it’s not a no, but it’s not a yes."

Whatever decision Carey makes next, one thing is certain: her legacy in gymnastics will continue to inspire athletes for years to come.