The signs were there on March 15, when the Oregon State Beavers clashed with the Air Force in a thrilling showdown at Gill Coliseum. On that electric Saturday night, Jade Carey made it clear that she was in no mood for anything less than brilliance. She opened with a stunning 9.950 on vault, commanding the crowd’s attention with her power and precision. But that was just the warm-up. Moments later, she soared through her uneven bars routine, executing each release and handstand with such precision that the judges awarded her a 9.975—but to the crowd and her teammates, it was nothing short of perfection. They roared as if she had just claimed a perfect ten because, in their eyes, she had.

Then came the moment that left the entire arena buzzing. With the poise of a champion, Jade delivered back-to-back perfect tens on beam and floor exercise. Yes, two consecutive tens—a feat that seemed almost mythical in a season where the judging had been notoriously strict. But for Jade, it was just another day of pushing the boundaries of greatness. Those two flawless scores marked a major milestone: 14 perfect tens in her collegiate career. It was the kind of performance that made you wonder—if this is what she did on Senior Day, what kind of magic would she bring to her final collegiate meeting, i.e., on March 21?

On Friday night, March 21, Jade Carey finally shed the tag of being the Queen of 9.975s—and she did it spectacularly. Under the bright lights of Gill Coliseum, the Olympian delivered a floor routine that was nothing short of spellbinding. Every tumbling pass was crisp and powerful, her dance elements radiated elegance, and her landings were rock solid. When the final score flashed, a perfect 10, the entire arena erupted in joy. Fans leaped to their feet, cheering as if they’d just witnessed a championship-winning moment. Because, in a way, they had. It was Jade’s last home meet—the final time she would perform in front of the Beaver faithful. But while the crowd was still riding the high of that perfect ten, something even more special unfolded.

On that same unforgettable Friday night, while Jade Carey was basking in the glory of her perfect ten, a special message popped up on Instagram—one that made the moment even sweeter. Her alleged girlfriend, Aimee Sinacola, took to her story to share a heartfelt tribute. Against the backdrop of Jade’s unforgettable performance, Aimee posted a simple yet powerful message: “i’m so proud of you @jadecarey what a way to end it (white heart emoji).”

Short, sincere, and overflowing with pride—the message perfectly captured the emotional weight of the night. Fans, already emotional from Jade’s final home meet, swooned over the post, sending the gymnastics community into a frenzy. Moreover, the white heart emoji said it all—pure love, pride, and admiration for a champion who had just made history. As Jade waved to the crowd one last time in Gill Coliseum, knowing she had just delivered the perfect farewell, Aimee’s words seemed to echo the sentiment of every fan, teammate, and coach in the building. It wasn’t just about the perfect ten—it was about the person behind it. What script could have been better than this for the 24-year-old gymnast? 

Nothing, right? With unwavering precision and poise, Jade posted a jaw-dropping 39.850 all-around score, helping Oregon State notch an impressive 197.375—more than enough to take the day against Fisk. Yet, the team’s victory was only part of the story. That same all-around score earned Jade five more event titles, bringing her total to a staggering 160 titles as a Beaver. 160. Just let that number sink in. and as she waved to the crowd, the roar of Gill Coliseum made it clear: she had given everything to collegiate gymnastics—and she had left it all on the mat. It was, by every measure, the perfect ending. Or was it? Because if you ask Jade Carey, her story is far from over.

Jade Carey thinks to capitalize on her leadership role

Jade Carey wants to leave a legacy behind. She doesn’t want people to remember her as a prolific gymnast on college and elite fields. The former Olympic champion wants people to be inspired by her remembering her humane nature and it applies to everyone, be it her teammates or her fans. In February this year, Jade made it clear with an interaction with Guillermo Motta. 

In that interaction, Jade said, “What kind of person I was, what kind of teammate I was, and the leader that I was and I want to be able to help and inspire the younger generation to not be so hard on themselves and not have the only thing that matters in their life, is sports.” So, in her post-college career, she wants to carry on her role in sports. Is that true? The three-time Olympic medalist nodded.

She also added, “I feel like I haven’t had a whole lot of time to think about what I want to do. Exactly, but I do know that I’m going to want to be involved with sports in some capacity, especially female sports, aside from the medals, trophies, and records.” Jade is 24 now. She still has years left to engage in elite gymnastics. But she will keep remembering her collegiate endeavors, the last day, the wishes from loved ones, and the human she became in those years in Oregon.