Jade Carey celebrated a strong performance during the Olympic vault final held at Bercy Arena in Paris on Saturday night. The Oregon State gymnast delivered near-perfect runs, executing complex twists and turns that led to impressive scores of 14.73 and 14.2.
Despite her exceptional performance, Carey found herself competing against formidable teammates. Simone Biles, who made history by winning her seventh gold medal, scored 15.7 and 14.9, while Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade claimed the silver medal with scores of 15.1 and 14.8. Carey’s bronze finish was cherished, placing her alongside two of the sport’s legends.
“I was really proud of how I competed,” Carey remarked while wearing her third-place medal. She expressed that this day had been a long time coming and served as a significant motivation for her.
At 24, Carey viewed her medal as a means of redemption, especially after finishing eighth in the Tokyo Olympics three years prior. Although she had been a top contender in Tokyo, she struggled with her landings, ultimately missing out on a medal opportunity.
Carey’s journey to the final was complicated by a bout of flu-like symptoms that left her unable to eat for days. This affected her performance in the qualification rounds, where she failed to advance in the floor exercise. However, she gradually regained her strength, convincing coaches that she could compete in the vault.
“I wouldn’t say I’m 100%, it’s still hard for me to eat,” Carey admitted, but acknowledged that she was feeling better.
During the event, Carey showcased her skills as the final competitor in a group of eight women, donning a blue leotard highlighted with white stars. She built upon her initial landing to earn a high score with the first vault, receiving applause from a crowd filled with fans from multiple countries.
With a qualifying requirement to surpass North Korea’s An Chang-ok for third place, Carey delivered another solid vault, practically flawless aside from a minor landing misstep.
Biles praised Carey’s remarkable performance, emphasizing her preparation and perseverance despite recent challenges. Brian Carey, Jade’s father and coach, expressed immense pride in her hard work and determination leading up to the Olympic event.
“It was amazing today,” he said. “She trusted the numbers and trusted her training.”