Jade Carey, 21, is a 5’1″ Phoenix native competing at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. This week, Carey qualified for the Sunday, Aug. 1 floor exercise and vaulting. After Simone Biles withdrew from tomorrow’s individual all-around, it was announced that Carey would take her place in the competition, alongside Suni Lee.
Here is everything to know about the four-time medalist and her road to the Olympics.
Carey has committed to Oregon State University.
In 2017, Carey officially signed to Oregon State University but deferred enrollment to pursue the chance to win Olympic gold. She is expected to join the OSU Gymnastics team for the 2022 season. Carey told Inside Gymnastics Magazine that she has already begun taking classes. “I’m sad I won’t be able to be up in Oregon this year, but I’ve been in touch with the coaches a lot, and they’ve been great helping me set a new plan,” Carey told the outlet. “I’m going to start some classes so that I will have some classes done before I get there.”
Carey helped fellow gymnast Riley McCusker after she alleged misconduct by a former coach.
Riley McCusker is a fellow member of the U.S. national team who trained with gymnastic coach Maggie Haney at MG Elite in Marlboro, N.J. McCusker and another gymnast filed a lawsuit late last year against Haney, their former coach, alleging, as NJ.com put it, that “screaming, body shaming, discouraging girls from getting their periods, and unsafe training conditions” led to serious injuries. Former Olympian Laurie Hernandez also testified against Haney.
With McCusker coach-less and unsure about her future in gymnastics, Carey invited her to come train with her in Arizona. In an interview with Olympics.com, McCusker said her new gym gave her a new lease on the sport. “I love gymnastics again. I am so happy in the gym every day, doing what I love. I’m really actually thankful that I got an extra year out here training in Arizona. I’m just so happy, and I love the sport. I think that’s the biggest difference,” she said.
Carey told Inside Gymnastics Magazine that she loves training with McCusker. “We really push each other to be better and help each other in every way we can. It’s nice to have a training partner that knows exactly what you’re going through,” she said.
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The vault is Carey’s favorite event.
Carey also revealed that vault is her favorite event, per PopSugar. In 2016, Carey had a skill named after her called “The Carey” in the Junior Olympic Code of Points, which is also referred to as “tucked Kasamatsu full.”
Carey’s father is her gymnastics trainer.
Carey and her father, Brian, are a gymnastic father and daughter duo. Since her parents owned a gym when she was growing up, Carey was around the sport from a young age.
In September, Carey posted an Instagram tribute for her father’s birthday. She posted two photos of her and her father at a gymnastics meet. “Happy birthday, dad!! Thanks for being by my side every step of the way❤️❤️ I love you,” she captioned the post.
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Carey’s mother is her ‘number one’ supporter.
As she shined in her performance at the Olympics preliminary round in Tokyo, Carey’s mother, Danielle, supported her daughter thousands of miles away in Gilbert. In an interview with People.com, Carey’s mother said, “I talked to Jade after the competition, and she said, ‘I guess today was a good day to have the best day ever!’ “
She went on to say how proud she is of her daughter. “The whole experience has just been amazing! I am so proud of her and her accomplishments on this wonderful journey! I was so excited about her going out and hitting all four routines in the biggest competition of her life!!” she told the outlet. “I was even more proud of her character and the way she presented herself on the competition floor. The sacrifices she has made, her strong work ethic, her dedication to this difficult sport, and her perseverance are all the qualities that helped shape her into the athlete she is today!”
Carey posted about her appreciation for her mother on Instagram. “To the best momma ever, thank you for being my #1 supporter and teaching me to always believe in myself❣️ happy birthday!! I love you,” she captioned the post.
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Carey showed an interest in gymnastics at a young age.
On the “Today Show” earlier this month, Carey’s mother talked about how Jade’s passion for gymnastics started when she was a toddler. “I believe she was about four years old; her dad and I were watching TV, and all of a sudden, oop, there goes a cartwheel,” she explained. “We looked at each other, and I said, ‘Did you teach her that?’ and he said, ‘No, did you?’ and I said ‘no,’ and so I think we kind of knew at that point.”
She will perform as an individual for the U.S. at the Olympics.
The gymnast is a four-time world championship medalist.
On July 25, Carey qualified for the Olympics women’s gymnastics floor exercise and vault finals. She earned the second-highest vault score of 15.166 and the third-highest score on floor. The vault finals will take place on Aug. 1 and the floor exercise is scheduled for Aug. 2.
She is “besties” with U.S. Olympic teammate Grace McCallum.
In October, Carey posted a sweet birthday tribute for her best friend and fellow gymnast, Grace McCallum. “Happy birthday to my bestie, roomie for life, and travel buddy!! I love you so much, grace💓💓 miss you,” Carey wrote as the caption.
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Carey is a Gemini.
Carey was born on May 27, 2000 to Brian Carey and Danielle Mitchell-Greenberg. She has three siblings: Alexis, Taeva, and Xandon. She was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ and still resides there as she lives with her family.
She does an intense ab workout.
In an interview with PopSugar, Carey revealed the intense ab routine that prepared her for the Olympics. “It’s pretty quick, but it’s still pretty hard and a good workout,” the gymnast said. You can read the full workout over at PopSugar.
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Starr Savoy
Starr Savoy is a fellow at ELLE.com, where she writes about celebrity, culture, beauty, and fashion.
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