Catching the attention of the NCAA audience, Jade Carey made her first big try at the Tokyo Olympics. With Biles missing in action, Carey was one of the gymnasts who stepped up to make sure that the American colors fluttered. Notching up a gold medal in the floor routine, Carey’s elite journey got a nitro boost. She went on to secure a couple more gold medals at the 2022 World Championships in Liverpool. Flying high on confidence, Carey did not face a problem getting into the main mix of the Paris Olympics. However, despite the glitz and glamour wrapping her in glory, Carey started to show signs of breakdown.

While in Paris, the gymnast had some rough times that made quite a buzz among the gymnast fraternity. Now that the high-octane ride is over, Carey seems to be adhering to the call of the hour. Such a decision will likely see Biles on her own if she decides to continue her elite career in 2025. Coming back to Carey, the Oregon senior will be focusing on getting herself to speed again. 

Jade Carey’s decision comes in the light of her choosing to focus on mental health

Sometimes, too much gymnastics can be harmful. While trying to balance three full-fledged NCAA seasons along with her elite commitments, Carey’s body took a toll. Despite admitting to being sick in Paris, Jade Carey jumped right back into the Gold Over America Tour. However, it seems like the time has come for Carey to draw the line. Dropping a major update, the Olympic gold medalist stated that she will be skipping elite gymnastics in 2025. This means that the 24-year-old will not feature in the 2025 World Championships. Simone Biles will now miss Jade Carey, as she has finally decided to step her feet off the pedal. 

Looking at the strenuous routine elite gymnasts follow, the decision to take a step back might be a boon for her career’s longevity. But well, Carey’s fans must not frown. While the update might seem somber, Carey is not dropping her game completely. The 24-year-old will be returning for her senior season at the OSU Beavers. Speaking with Olympics.com about her decision, Carey stated, “I feel like I can’t really [hold back]. I like to dive right in, but I’m excited to be able to really focus on my team this year.”

Being a senior gymnast now, Carey expressed her willingness to play the role of an anchor. Looking to guide her juniors, the 2x Olympian stated, “I’m not doing elite this year, so I just have them to focus on, and that’s it. I’m really excited to jump in with them and be a leader and help get them to where we want to go.” Now, that’s a spirit that did not come full-fledged in the previous seasons. While Carey did lead her pack at the Beavers, her involvement will surely be a lot more enticing this time around. Considering how her campaign almost got derailed in Paris, her decision to take time off the elite will heal her mind and body significantly. 

Carey’s horrific fall in Paris

Jade Carey was highly touted to deliver a medal-worthy performance in Paris. Trying to push herself during the team floor routine, her worst nightmare came true. Carey tripped badly and went rolling outside the mat. This was a huge setback, as a performance like this would mean a significant loss in points for Team USA.

Following her subpar performance, Carey spoke about her illness. She opened up, saying that she had a fever and also experienced poor gut health. But Jade Carey was determined to write her story in gold. She not only composed herself and delivered a decent performance to help Team USA clinch the gold.

The Beavers’ icon also nailed two of her vaults in the individual events. Averaging 14.466, Carey clinched the bronze medal, completing her redemption as Simone Biles and Rebeca Andrade took the top two spots. Thus, with an inspiring emergence to mainstream gymnastics, Jade Carey will look to use her step down as a launching pad for greater success in the future.