After stepping away from elite competition for a while, Jade Carey is back in gymnastics. But the bigger story is not just her return; it's the way Jade Carey is choosing to approach it. 

Carey announced her comeback through her social media video, where she reflected on her journey and motivation. In the video, she said, “Gymnastics has always been at the centre of my life… with that being said, I still have more to give, and I’m not done yet”. 

The announcement concluded with “SEE YOU SOON” flashing on the screen, and she added in a caption, “taking the journey one year at a time.” This shows she is choosing to return slowly and steadily, focusing on one year at a time instead of long-term goals.

Jade Carey is a three-time Olympic medalist who has performed at a high level in both elite and NCAA gymnastics. At Oregon State, she achieved a Gym Slam with perfect 10s on vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise, and became the 13th gymnast in NCAA history to reach this level.

Carey last competed at the 2025 NCAA Championships, which marked the end of her college career. She finished her time with Oregon State by winning the AAI Award and recording four perfect 10s in her senior season. After that, she moved into a student assistant coaching role and also continued training in the gym.

Following the gym training and the coach role, she stayed connected with the sport even after taking a break from NCAA Competitions. As of now, she is finishing her Bachelor of Science degree in digital communication arts.

Being around the sport now brings her to the next step of her comeback.

Carey’s Road Back to Elite Gymnastics in 2026

Carey’s return now places her back into the 2026 elite gymnastics season, where she will follow a clear competition path. Her first step is expected to be the national team camp in May, which will help her re-enter the U.S. system. 

After that, she is likely to compete at the American Classic in June and the U.S. Classic in July, both important events for qualification.

The U.S. Gymnastics Championships in August in Phoenix will be an important part of her comeback. If she performs well and stays consistent, she could move closer to the 2026 World Championships in Rotterdam.

If Carey does well in these stages, her return could go toward the LA 2028 Olympics. But right now, she is not thinking that far ahead. She is focusing only on what she needs to do now, like training and upcoming competitions, instead of long-term plans.

That raises a simple question: Is this just a careful comeback, or is she slowly building toward another Olympic journey? Tell us what you think.

Read more at the Gymnastics Digest!

Written by

Divyanshi Raj

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason