Olympic Gold Medalist Jade Carey Returns to Gymnastics

Olympic gold medalist Jade Carey just announced she's coming out of retirement, and her timing couldn't be more perfect for fans in her hometown of Phoenix.

The 25-year-old gymnast shared the news on social media Saturday with a simple but powerful message: she still has "more to give" and isn't done yet. Carey wrapped up her college career at Oregon State in 2025, finishing her senior season with four perfect 10s and the prestigious AAI Award.

Since then, she's been balancing life as a student assistant coach while completing her bachelor's degree in digital communication arts. She'll even give the commencement address at Oregon State on June 13 before diving back into elite competition.

Carey's likely return point is the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in August, held right in her hometown of Phoenix. She hasn't competed at the elite level since the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she won team gold and vault bronze alongside teammate Simone Biles.

That Paris experience had a bittersweet moment when Carey couldn't defend her floor exercise title from Tokyo after falling ill during qualifications. She later revealed she was battling depleted energy and sickness, making her medals even more impressive.

Why This Inspires

Carey is following the trail blazed by Biles and other gymnasts who've proven the sport isn't just for teenagers. At 25, she's showing that experience and maturity can be just as powerful as youth in gymnastics.

Her resume already includes three Olympic medals and seven world championship medals, with golds on floor exercise, vault, and team events. If she returns to form, she could be a huge asset for Team USA at the 2026 World Championships in Rotterdam this October.

The path back won't be easy. Carey will need to earn qualifying scores at national team camp or Classic meets before competing at championships. But she's approached her comeback with realistic expectations, saying she's taking it "one year at a time."

If everything goes well, Carey could potentially qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, which would be her third Olympic Games. For now, she's focused on what's ahead while finishing her degree and preparing to inspire Oregon State graduates next month.

Phoenix fans will get to see their hometown hero compete on home turf this August, a fitting welcome back for a gymnast who's already achieved so much but clearly has more dreams to chase.