PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon State University gymnast Jade Carey took home a bronze and gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Her skillful vault in the team all-around competition helped lead Team USA back to the top of the podium.
“That was the biggest goal of the entire Olympics," Carey said. "It was bringing home a team gold medal, so just for everyone to be able to do that and everyone come together and give it their all and for it to be successful was an incredible feeling.”
Carey was sick and had a tough start to the Olympics that led to the 24-year-old missing out on the floor exercise final where she earned a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. But, she was able to come back in outstanding fashion in the team all-around to stand with her teammates on the podium — all with gold medals around their necks.
“It’s just pure joy and excitement and just a relief that all the hard work has paid off," she said. "It’s really special to be able to share that moment all together up there, because you’ll never forget it.”
While earning a gold medal in the team final was unforgettable, Carey said taking home a bronze in vault "meant everything."
"I’ve worked so hard mentally and physically to get back to that point," she said. "So, to be able to just keep my focus and believe in myself and get a medal was really exciting.”
At her Oregon State welcome home party, Carey announced that she will be coming back to the university for the upcoming 2025 gymnastics season.
“I don’t think it was really a hard decision," Carey said. "I think that it was just more so if my mind and body can still handle gymnastics, but at the end of the day I love this place and I love gymnastics. So, I’m excited to get back and have a little bit more a normal year in college gymnastics and really be able to focus on those things and my team a little bit more than last year.”
Shortly after KGW's interview with Carey, USA Gymnastics said the Court of Arbitration for Sport will not reconsider the decision that stripped fellow Team USA gymnast Jordan Chiles of her bronze medal, even after it submitted new evidence.
Carey and Chiles are both two-time Olympians, having been part of the U.S. gymnastics team together in Tokyo. She said she hasn't seen a situation like what Chiles is facing before.
"It’s definitely a hard and unique situation,” Carey said.
“I would just tell Jordan that she’s an incredible person and an incredible athlete," she added. "She deserves the world and that I have her back every step of the way.”