Jade Carey Overcomes Illness to Qualify for Vault Final at Paris Olympics
U.S. gymnast Jade Carey showcased immense resilience during the women’s gymnastics qualifying session at the Paris 2024 Olympics, battling through a debilitating illness to secure a spot in the vault final.
Carey, the reigning Olympic floor exercise champion, had high hopes of defending her title in Paris. However, her performance on the floor was uncharacteristically erratic, a direct consequence of her illness. Struggling with a lack of energy and focus, Carey made several mistakes during her routine.
On her final tumbling pass, she failed to execute a double tuck, opting instead for a single tuck and rolling onto her back and out of bounds.
This mishap resulted in a score of 10.633, placing her last among all floor competitors and dashing her hopes of advancing in this event.
“I had, like, no energy today and didn’t really have a sense of what was going on in my head. So, I just kind of wanted people to know that so they know that there’s actually something wrong,” Carey explained to Olympics.com.
Her illness had been a significant factor leading up to the competition. She revealed that she had been unable to eat or maintain her energy levels for several days. The situation was compounded by the absence of her coach and father, Brian Carey, who also fell ill and missed the team’s podium training session on July 25.
“One of the hardest things about sports is that no matter how much you prepare, sometimes the morning you wake up for a meet, you might not be feeling well. You might be jet lagged, you may not have slept well, and fluke things can happen. It’s just so devastating to hear that she hasn’t been feeling well,” commented three-time Olympic champion Aly Raisman.
“I hope that she knows that she did an unbelievable job.”
In a stunning reversal of fortune, Carey managed to regroup and deliver an impressive performance on the vault. She successfully executed a Cheng vault and a double-twisting Yurchenko, earning an average score of 14.433. This score was sufficient to secure her a place in the vault final, scheduled for August 3.
Her mother, Danielle, was visibly emotional as she watched her daughter perform. The relief and pride were palpable as Carey completed her vault routines, a testament to her grit and determination.
Her performance contributed to Team USA’s overall success in the qualifiers. Led by Simone Biles, who herself was managing a leg injury, the U.S. team posted a score of 172.296, placing them well ahead of the competition.
Other standout performances came from Suni Lee and Jordan Chiles, who, along with Biles, are expected to lead the team in the finals.
The women’s team final is set for July 30, and Carey’s participation will depend on her recovery from the illness. If she is unable to compete, Suni Lee is likely to step in for her on floor and vault.
As the Olympics progress, fans and teammates alike will be rooting for her speedy recovery and success in the upcoming events.