Jade Carey, like her teammates on the women’s US national gymnastics squad, fell in love with the sport at a tender age—as early as one year old. That might be hard to grasp, but for the Phoenix native, it was not difficult, given her parents’ gymnastics background. In fact, Jade Carey spent a significant portion of her early years at a gym run by her parents. Later, a dark cloud appeared over that love as her parents went through a divorce. Despite the brewing distance in the familial relationship, Jade’s bond with gymnastics remained unbroken, thanks to her father’s unwavering support.

Thus far, Jade Carey’s narrative may resonate with others, as several American athletes, such as Twanisha Terry, have experienced nearly identical upbringings. However, Jade Carey and her father’s journey stands out as distinctly unique.

Meet Jade Carey’s coach and dad, Brian Carey

Carey On Gymnastics—no, it is not a slogan to motivate Jade Carey on the gymnastics mat. Rather, it is her father’s program to help “athletes, coaches, and parents alike” optimize their gymnastics schedules. The program has garnered praise from prominent figures like Riley McCusker for its invaluable support during crucial moments. Jade Carey also feels the same way, as after her victory in the Tokyo Olympics, she showered praise on Brian Carey for his role as a mentor. “I’m really glad we were able to share this together,” said the Tokyo Olympics floor exercise champion. The proud father took additional joy as Jade Carey proved herself in a defining moment when Simone Biles withdrew from the remaining contest. The camaraderie between him and his daughter continued later as well.

After the Tokyo Olympics, Jade Carey continued with both her elite and NCAA gymnastics careers. However, during her freshman and sophomore seasons, Brian frequently visited Jade’s college gymnastics facility at Oregon State University to provide guidance. The situation took an unexpected turn when Jade failed to make a mark in the elite contests last year. Subsequently, her NCAA performance also came under scrutiny.

In such a situation, Brian Carey joined OSU as the assistant coach. This move caught the 24-year-old gymnast off-guard. However, by collaborating with OSU coaches Tanya and Michael Chaplin, Brian devised a foolproof plan to ease Jade Carey’s workload. All this was carried out to make the former world champion mentally prepared for the Paris Olympics. The move proved to be transformative as Jade began to win elite gymnastics contests. Her recent achievement in the US Olympic gymnastics trials is a testament to the success of their planning. Brian Carey has consistently absorbed pressure on behalf of his daughter since her early years.

Brian Carey never pushed Jade Carey to take up gymnastics

Jade Carey’s mother, Danielle Greenberg, presently runs a gymnastics facility called Gold Medal Gymnastics. She also keeps an eye on her daughter’s endeavors and cherishes the bond Jade shares with her father. In the meantime, she also recollects the memories that once bound Jade to her love for gymnastics. In these recollections, there is no chapter on forced bonding.

Reminiscing about those moments, Danielle shared that she allowed her daughter to develop her love for gymnastics on her own, never pushing her into the sport. Rather, it was Jade Carey’s steadfast decision to pursue gymnastics. She further noted, “Her dad and I never pushed. We let her guide the ship all the way through. We didn’t talk about gymnastics at home. She could really just develop the way she wanted to.” Jade Carey once echoed the same sentiment, revealing, “My parents have been very influential… My dad coaches me.” Therefore, the journey has always been a story of love, passion, and family. Fans hope it will continue in the same way in the days to come.