After emerging from a cloud of chaos following last year’s Paris Olympics, Jordan Chiles is once again embracing gymnastics with renewed passion. With 10 perfect 10s across all events, she now ranks No. 5 all-time among UCLA gymnasts. Chiles has been on fire throughout the NCAA season. However, despite her success, another team has had the upper hand in NCAA competition this year, outclassing UCLA in their very first meet.

Who had the biggest impact in that meeting? The undefeated record from 2025, together with her 39.690 all-around average. gives Jade Carey the number-one gymnast spot in the United States. As the season nears its conclusion, Chiles has shared her thoughts on Oregon Beavers’ all-around star.

Jordan Chiles made Jade Carey feel at home

Olympic gymnasts Jade Carey and Jordan Chiles have competed at the highest levels of the sport, winning medals for Team USA at the Olympics, breaking records, and making their mark in NCAA gymnastics. Despite their intense competition, the two have always shown unwavering support for each other, both on the sidelines and online. Their friendship is built on years of shared experiences, mutual admiration, and an understanding of the pressures that come with elite gymnastics. Though they may be rivals in competition, their bond remains unshaken.

In honor of their unique partnership, Chiles and Carey recently chatted with PopSugar about their friendship. When asked how they first became friends, Chiles reflected on their early days at the national team training camp in 2017. “Being the people we are, we wanted to make sure she was comfortable and understood what was happening throughout national team camp. It can get very confusing and stressful, and it’s a different chapter of your life,” Chiles explained. Jordan Chiles and Carey didn’t just compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics—they made history together, helping Team USA secure its fourth women’s team gold medal, and their bond only grew stronger from there.

Chiles continued, “Being able to be there for her, I think that was the biggest thing. We’re all girls and trying to understand one another. We had different stories, but at the end of the chapter, we ended up still making an Olympic team, and two at that rate.” Jade Carey, for her part, also shares the same deep respect for her best friend Chiles.

Despite being the older one at 24 years of age, Jade Carey recalled how the experienced Chiles ushered her into the elite gymnastics set-up. Carey said,

“We became friends pretty fast. I was very new and Jordan had been around for a while, so she was there to help me get used to elite gymnastics and going to camps and tell me how everything works. That’s probably when our friendship really began.” The duo has continued to push the boundaries of gymnastics, not just in their NCAA performances but also by becoming the first gymnasts to win Olympic gold in the middle of their collegiate careers.

For Chiles, balancing elite and NCAA training requires intense focus and self-discipline. Regardless of wins or losses, her biggest hope is to inspire future generations to pursue their dreams fearlessly. “Enjoy each and every moment as best as you can,” she advises those looking to follow in her and Carey’s footsteps. Their impact on gymnastics goes beyond medals and titles. Their legacy now includes a new honor. Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey recently joined an elite group of athletes who have their own Barbie dolls, cementing their status as role models for young gymnasts everywhere.

Chiles and Carey get honored by Barbie on International Women’s Day

Paris 2024 Olympic artistic gymnastics team champions Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey of the United States celebrated March’s International Women’s Day with a very special honor. They get to have their own Barbie dolls! The figurines were part of Mattel’s celebration of IWD, which also aimed to highlight the power of friendship. Carey, who also owns the floor exercise gold medal from Tokyo 2020 and 2021, and Chiles, a member of the team that took silver at Tokyo 2020, were honored alongside other celebrities, including Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham and tennis great Ash Barty.

A recent statistic suggests that 55 percent of Gen Z inspired the toy company’s latest launch. “I’m beyond pumped to be honored alongside one of my best friends, Jade Carey, with a Barbie made in my likeness to celebrate International Women’s Day,” Chiles said in a statement. The Chiles and Carey dolls aren’t currently available for purchase, but Mattel has previously mass-released its one-of-a-kind Barbies, making it possible that the duo’s figurines could one day reach the public.

Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey have long been trailblazers in gymnastics, not just as Olympic champions but also as NCAA standouts. Their recognition by Barbie further cements their status as role models for young athletes and fans alike. As they continue to make history both in collegiate gymnastics and on the international stage, their bond and achievements serve as an inspiration to the next generation of gymnasts, proving that friendship and excellence can go hand in hand.