“I’m thrilled to announce that I’m committed to the 2025 season,” were the words that Jade Carey said back on August 12 last year. To some, it might just feel like any other pitch. But the fact is, these words had come barely 24 hours after Carey’s victorious Paris 2024 campaign as part of the Golden Girls. While some may have taken some time basking in their new gold medal glory, Carey was already up to the next big milestone. So it’s no wonder that the crowds were ecstatic as the 24-year-old announced her return to the Beavers. But now, eight months down the line, with the sunset of her Oregon career just around the corner, Jade has some special words for the Oregon faithful.

And the fans are enjoying every moment of it. After all, Carey has been talismanic at Oregon State. She has gone to her fourth straight NCAA Championship as part of the Beavers. She is also among the few to have secured four perfect 10s in four consecutive meets. But while the Phoenix, Arizona, native is looking to finally break free of her glass ceiling and win her first title, her reverence for her team and her love for her University is what’s taking the limelight.

After all, Jade Carey’s path to Oregon State wasn’t your typical college recruitment story. She committed to OSU at just 14 years old, can you believe it? But she didn’t actually join the team until she was 21. Why the seven-year gap? Olympic dreams, that’s why! “I committed to Oregon State at 14 and waited seven whole years to finally start my journey here,” Jade reflected in 2023. “From the minute I stepped on campus, I felt connected and cared for.”

While most gymnasts go straight from high school to college, Jade took a different route. She deferred her enrollment to chase Olympic glory in Tokyo. And hello? It paid off! She became an Olympic floor exercise champion before ever setting foot in a collegiate competition. When she finally arrived on campus in fall 2021, she wasn’t your average freshman. Really? Far from it! “Coming in as a freshman with Olympic gold was different. It felt like everybody already knew who I was, overwhelming but special.”

Her freshman season? Absolutely stellar. Despite the pressure that comes with being an Olympian, she thrived in the orange and black leotard. But being her ever-humble self, she credits her coaches just as much. In fact, she mentions, “My coaches did a great job helping me just be myself. Competing at the highest level can be stressful, so having a blast with this amazing family was incredible.”

After her first collegiate season, she went right back to elite competition, adding more hardware to her collection. “After an elite season, winning team gold at Worlds, plus gold on vault and bronze on floor, it was such an honor representing both my country and Oregon State,” she mentioned. “The family environment is what makes OSU special. No matter what, my team, coaches, and support staff all have my back.” Well, now, she is in her final season, and she is making sure one final piece from her trophy cabinet is realized.

A Look back at Jade Carey’s 2025 season as she bids for her first NCAA title

For a change, can we talk about Jade Carey’s incredible 2025 season? Honestly, it reads like a sports movie script! Can you believe it? She is in her fourth straight Individual NCAA Championship. “This has been a big goal of mine for a long time,” she confessed during the April 11 pre-national conference. “To be so close to hopefully making it happen soon is awesome.”

What goal? The national title that’s somehow eluded her despite her Olympic success! She’s reached four all-around finals, with her best finish coming just last season when she placed runner-up behind LSU star Haleigh Bryant and tied with Leanne Wong. But now? Now she’s determined to do what she always wanted to do. And that is to have individual glory at the second grandest stage. Why second? Well, lest we forget, she is already an Olympic gold medalist.

Not to mention, if her 2025 season is any indication of what’s to come, the ball might as well be in her court. Don’t believe us? Just look at her first meet this season at the Pacific Coast Challenge. There, she decimated the competition. From there, the winning ways just continued. And by February 21, she has already won the AA eight consecutive times. We tell you that’s not normal. Perhaps for Carey, but still not normal.

But if you thought that’s all, then you’re mistaken. On Senior Night against Air Force, Carey posted a career-best 39.925 all-around score with perfect 10.0s on both balance beam and floor exercise. That earned her a second career, Gym Slam, joining elite company with Maggie Nichols, Kyla Ross, and Trinity Thomas. Her 39.925 stands as the fourth-best all-around score in NCAA history!

“The support from Beaver Nation has meant everything to me,” she shared. “Coming back after the Olympics to finish what I started here was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. This team, these coaches—they’re my family.” Despite Oregon State placing fourth at the Alabama Regional and not advancing as a team, Carey’s consistent brilliance earned her a spot at the 2025 NCAA Championships as an individual.