Ten Olympic and World Championship medals place this athlete among the most decorated in U.S. women gymnastics history. Her explosive power on vault and artistic floor routines carved a unique path to the top.
She earned her spot on the 2020 Olympic team through the World Cup series, a strategic move away from traditional selection. This approach showcased a fierce independence that defines her career.
Born in Phoenix, Arizona, she trained at Arizona Sunrays under the guidance of her father, Brian Carey. Their unique coaching partnership fueled a rapid ascent from Level 10 competitor to Olympic champion in just four years.
Fans know her as “Jaderade,” a nickname capturing her energizing presence in the sport. It reflects the fresh, powerful approach she brings to every competition.
Her journey includes individual glory in Tokyo and team triumph in Paris. She then seamlessly transitioned to record-setting achievements in NCAA competition with Oregon State University.
This story traces the arc of a gymnast defined by resilience and smart choices. It’s a profile of technical innovation and lasting excellence across two Olympic cycles.
Introduction to Jade Carey
A reputation built on two apparatus events defines this athlete’s decorated career. Power on the vault and artistry on the floor exercise became her signature.
Her journey produced medals across every major competition. This consistency marks a career managed with sharp focus.
Profile Overview
She is best known for her abilities on the vault and floor exercise. Her explosive power commands attention in every routine.
The gymnast earned individual Olympic gold on floor exercise in Tokyo. She also captured a team gold and a vault bronze in Paris.
World titles and national championships fill her record. She maintained elite status for nearly a decade.
Key Career Milestones
Major victories chart a path of sustained excellence. These achievements highlight her strategic approach to competition.
| Competition | Year | Event | Medal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olympic Games | 2020 | Floor Exercise | Gold |
| World Championships | 2022 | Vault | Gold |
| U.S. National Championships | 2017, 2022 | Vault | Gold |
| Pan American Championships | 2018 | Team, Vault, Floor | Gold |
Early Life and Gymnastics Beginnings
Phoenix, Arizona provided the backdrop for a childhood spent entirely within the walls of her parents’ gymnastics facility. The young athlete’s story began in 2002 when she first stepped onto the mats at age two.
Her parents owned the local gym where she grew up playing among the equipment. This environment became her natural habitat from earliest memory.
Family Background and Early Training
Brian Carey and Danielle Mitchell-Greenberg created a home where athletics were central to daily life. Their daughter Jade Carey developed her skills under her father’s coaching guidance.
The family maintained strong athletic traditions across multiple sports. Sister Taeva followed into gymnastics while brother Xandon pursued soccer.
By 2016, her technical prowess earned recognition at the Junior Olympics Nationals. Officials named a vault skill “The Carey” in her honor.
| Milestone | Year | Location | Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Started Gymnastics | 2002 | Arizona Sunrays | Beginner training |
| Junior Olympics | 2016 | Nationals | Skill named after her |
| Elite Camp Invitation | 2016 | The Ranch | National team recognition |
| Family Gym Operation | 2000s | Phoenix | Daily training environment |
That same year brought her first elite national team camp invitation. This signaled Valeri Liukin’s recognition of her potential.
The foundation built during these early years established patterns for future success. Family support and consistent coaching created the framework for Olympic achievement.
Elite Gymnastics Career Highlights
Beginning the 2017 season below elite status, this athlete’s breakthrough came with unprecedented speed. An invitation to The Ranch training facility transformed her trajectory from Level 10 competitor to world championship contender.
Her elite debut at the American Classic showcased immediate dominance. She claimed first place on vault, floor exercise, and balance beam. This performance signaled her readiness for the international stage.
Breakthrough Performances and National Team Selection
The 2017 U.S. National Championships secured her first national team spot. She earned gold on vault and silver on floor exercise. This achievement marked her official arrival in elite gymnastics.
Selection for the 2017 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships followed quickly. She joined teammates Ragan Smith, Morgan Hurd, and Ashton Locklear in Montreal. The competition would test her against the world’s best.
Medals at World Championships and International Success
At her first world championships, the gymnast qualified second for vault finals and third for floor exercise. She converted both opportunities into silver medals. This made her an instant international medalist.
The 2019 World Championships in Stuttgart brought her first team gold medal. She contributed crucial scores on vault and floor exercise. Her vault final performance earned another silver medal.
By the 2022 World Championships in Liverpool, she achieved her first individual world title on vault. She added a floor exercise bronze and helped secure another team gold. These accomplishments cemented her legacy among America’s most decorated gymnasts.
Olympic Journey and Road to the Podium
From Tokyo’s disappointment to Paris’ redemption, the Olympic journey showcased remarkable mental fortitude. The athlete faced extreme pressure across two Olympic games.
2020 Tokyo Floor Exercise Triumph
Tokyo brought both heartbreak and glory. The vault final ended in last place after a runway misstep forced a simplified routine.
Just one day later, redemption arrived. The floor exercise final delivered Olympic gold with a score of 14.366. This made her the third consecutive American champion in this event.
Explosive tumbling passes defined the winning routine. The performance featured difficult skills executed with precision and artistry.
2024 Paris Olympic Vault and Team Achievements
Paris represented a full circle moment. Competing as a team member brought different pressures and rewards.
The vault final delivered bronze medal success with a solid 14.466. This marked her third Olympic medal overall.
Team contributions proved crucial during the team final. A strong 14.800 vault score helped secure the team gold medal.
| Olympic Games | Event | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo 2020 | Floor Exercise Final | Gold | 14.366 |
| Tokyo 2020 | Vault Final | 8th Place | 12.416 |
| Paris 2024 | Vault Final | Bronze | 14.466 |
| Paris 2024 | Team Final | Gold | 14.800 (vault) |
National Championships and U.S. Team Achievements
The athlete’s strategic approach to qualification through World Cup events marked a departure from traditional team selection methods. This path required careful planning and consistent performance across multiple competitions.
U.S. Championships and World Cup Success
Domestic competitions established her as a consistent force. At the 2017 U.S. Championships, she claimed gold on vault and silver on floor exercise during her elite debut.
Her performance trajectory continued through multiple national events. The 2022 U.S. Championships brought vault gold and floor exercise silver, earning her USA Gymnastics Athlete of the Year honors.
World Cup competitions became the strategic pathway to Olympic qualification. The Baku World Cup in March 2019 saw her upgrade to a more difficult vault, resulting in double gold medals.
Similar success followed at the Doha World Cup later that month. She secured another double gold performance, defeating former world champion Maria Paseka by a narrow margin.
| Competition | Year | Vault Result | Floor Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baku World Cup | 2019 | Gold | Gold |
| Doha World Cup | 2019 | Gold | Gold |
| Melbourne World Cup | 2020 | Gold | Gold |
| Cottbus World Cup | 2018 | Silver | 5th Place |
The World Cup campaign yielded seven gold medals total. This unconventional approach successfully secured her individual Olympic berth for Tokyo.
Innovations in Gymnastics: Skills and Routines
Before reaching elite status, her signature vault skill earned official recognition in the Junior Olympics code of points. This early innovation signaled a career built on technical advancement.
Signature Vault Techniques and Floor Exercise Routines
The gymnast’s vault arsenal featured four distinct skills spanning different entry systems. She mastered the Amanar, Cheng, López, and double-twisting Yurchenko. Each required precise execution and explosive power.
Her strategic progression from López to Cheng in 2019 added significant start value. This technical upgrade transformed her from competitive vaulter to world champion caliber.
On floor exercise, routines combined explosive tumbling with artistic presentation. Legendary gymnast Betty Okino created choreography that showcased both athletic prowess and performance quality.
The floor routines featured boundary-pushing skills like the Moors and Silivas. During 2021 training, she experimented with a laid-out triple-twisting double salto. This demonstrated willingness to work at gymnastics’ absolute difficulty frontier.
Jade Carey maintained elite-level skills even in collegiate competition at Oregon State. She continued performing difficult elements across vault, uneven bars, and floor exercise. This commitment separated her from competitors who simplified for consistency.
Jade Carey: A Detailed Profile
Her competitive resume spans elite international meets, domestic championships, and unique team formats. This versatility creates one of the most diverse achievement portfolios in American gymnastics.
The athlete’s favorite event remains floor exercise. Here, artistic expression combines with explosive power that delivered Olympic gold.
Notable Competition Results and Awards
Major victories extend beyond Olympic podiums. The 2018 Pan American Championships produced triple gold in team, vault, and floor exercise.
World Cup series events became signature triumphs. She dominated the 2019 Doha World Cup and other international stops.
The 2024 Core Hydration Classic demonstrated ongoing competitiveness. She captured vault gold and placed fourth all-around during the Olympic qualification cycle.
Unique partnership formats showcased adaptability. Swiss Cup victories with Allan Bower (2019) and Yul Moldauer (2023) highlighted team chemistry.
Recognition came through the 2022 USA Gymnastics Athlete of the Year award. This honored her simultaneous elite and NCAA competition balance.
Personal details ground these athletic achievements. Phoenix declared “Jade Carey Day” after her Tokyo triumph. The hometown champion graduated high school in 2018 and enjoys steak.
Her career shows remarkable consistency across gymnastics championships. Regular appearances in vault and floor exercise finals mark seven elite seasons.
Collegiate Achievements at Oregon State
A perfect hit rate of 205 routines without a single fall defined an unprecedented collegiate career. The athlete’s transition to Oregon State University showcased remarkable consistency across four seasons.
NCAA Championships and Pac-12 Accolades
Carey collected six NCAA Championship medals during her time at the state university. She earned silver on uneven bars in 2022 and balance beam in 2023.
The 2024 championships brought all-around and floor exercise silver medals. She also captured bronze on the balance beam that same year.
Pac-12 Conference honors accumulated rapidly throughout her program participation. She became a two-time All-Around Champion and earned Gymnast of the Year recognition.
GymSlam and Record-Setting Performances
The gymnast completed the rare “GymSlam” achievement not once but twice. This requires perfect 10.000 scores on vault, bars, beam, and floor exercise.
Her ten perfect scores on floor exercise demonstrated signature event dominance. She also achieved perfect scores on the other three apparatus events.
Career totals include 168 event titles and the program’s 14 highest all-around scores. The 2025 AAI Award capped this exceptional collegiate journey.
| Season | Perfect 10s | Hit Rate | NCAA Medals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3 | 48/48 | Bars Silver |
| 2023 | 7 | 55/55 | Beam Silver |
| 2024 | 2 | 46/46 | AA Silver, Floor Silver, Beam Bronze |
| 2025 | 4 | 46/46 | Beam Bronze |
Final Reflections on an Inspiring Journey
Few athletes have navigated the complex landscape of elite competition with such deliberate precision. The strategic World Cup qualification path demonstrated career management sophistication rarely seen in women’s gymnastics.
Her ability to balance international and collegiate levels required remarkable resilience. This dual-track approach proved Olympic champions could thrive in NCAA competition without compromise.
The father-daughter coaching partnership created a stable foundation throughout her time on the world stage. It combined family support with professional training in ways that produced consistent excellence.
With ten combined Olympic and World Championship medals, Jade Carey stands tied as the fifth most decorated American female gymnast. Her legacy extends beyond podiums to include technical innovations and a blueprint for alternative pathways in the sport.
What remains is the image of an athlete who maximized every opportunity. She carved a unique path that future generations will study and admire.
