Jade Carey Captures Vault and Floor Gold in Elite Gymnastics Comeback

PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 3: Jade Carey of Team United States celebrates after finishing her routine during the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Vault Final on day eight of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at the Bercy Arena on August 3, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tom Weller/VOIGT/GettyImages)

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After an absence of nearly two years from elite competition, three‑time Olympic medalist Jade Carey returned to the sport with a strong performance at the American Classic on June 27. The gymnast, who captured two medals at the 2024 Olympics, stepped onto the floor for the first time since then, signaling the start of her LA 2028 campaign.

At the American Classic, Carey competed in all four events. She placed second in the all‑around behind 17‑year‑old Tatum Drusch but secured gold medals on vault and floor exercise—her signature apparatus—demonstrating the skills that made her a star on the international stage.

Even though she competed with a reduced difficulty level compared to her usual Olympic‑level routines, Carey exhibited remarkable height, precise form, and endurance throughout her exercises, hinting at her potential for a full‑strength comeback.

Carey had signaled before the competition that she would scale back her difficulty as she eased back into elite training. Consequently, her Saturday results were viewed as a highly successful debut for her comeback effort.

Her silver‑medal all‑around score of 53.050 marked a pivotal achievement, positioning her well for future world championship and Olympic aspirations.

The score meets USA Gymnastics’ qualification standards for the upcoming U.S. National Championships in Phoenix, Arizona—Carey’s hometown—placing her in a strong position to earn a spot on the U.S. National team.

If selected for the national roster, Carey could vie for a berth on the team traveling to the World Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands, scheduled for October.

At 26, Carey’s confident return reflects a disciplined and measured approach to training, underscoring her long‑term goals.

During her almost eight years on the U.S. National Team, Carey has rarely faced significant injuries and has appeared in two Olympic Games, three World Championships, and seven U.S. National Championships. Her résumé includes three Olympic medals, seven World medals, and ten U.S. national podium finishes. Looking ahead, she aims for a fourth World Championship appearance in 2026, and her steady, reliable performances are expected to add substantial value to Team USA.

Currently, Carey ranks as the fifth most decorated U.S. women’s gymnast of all time, tied with Olympic gold medalists Aly Raisman (2012, 2016). She needs one additional world or Olympic medal to match Alicia Sacramone’s fourth‑place tally and four more medals to overtake Nastia Liukin’s third‑place total.

Having secured her entry to the Phoenix competition, the Olympic gold medalist is now poised for Rotterdam and the possibility of competing in LA 2028.

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