Olympic Gymnast Jade Carey Struggles with Illness at Paris Olympics
Jade Carey, the 24-year-old USA Olympic gymnast, has faced significant health issues during the Paris Olympics. Carey, who won gold in the floor exercise at the Tokyo 2020 Games, has been unable to eat before her competition, leading to public concern.
In a candid interview with Olympics.com after the opening day of the women’s competition on July 28, Carey revealed, “I just have not been feeling well the past few days and haven’t been able to eat or anything.” She added, “I had, like, no energy today and didn’t really have a sense of what was going on in my head.” Carey explained that she wanted to clarify that her struggles were health-related, not due to competition nerves.
A video circulating on TikTok shows Carey’s performance, where she executes somersaults and flips but loses her balance and tumbles after her final landing. Observers noted her pale appearance and expressed concern for her well-being, with some suggesting that she should have been replaced in the competition due to her health issues.
“Watching it live was so scary I literally was silent,” one viewer commented on TikTok, while another noted, “She was sick and it looks like the routine was disorienting her.”
After the Women’s Qualification event, Carey addressed her performance on Instagram, expressing gratitude for the support she received and pride in her team’s achievements. “Not the day I was expecting to have but I can’t thank you all enough for the love and support. I am so proud of this team and what we accomplished today,” she wrote. Carey ended her message with a note of determination: “We’re not done yet.”
Carey will participate in the vault event for the USA women’s gymnastics team in the Women’s Team Final, alongside Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles. Biles, Chiles, and Sunisa Lee will also compete in the uneven bars, balance beam, and floor events.
Reacting to Carey’s absence from some events, fans on Instagram expressed their disappointment, with comments urging her return to the floor exercises.
Carey’s mother, Danielle Greenberg, provided an update to “Today” on July 29, stating, “She’s doing much better today. Trying to hydrate, get some food in, ready to go.” We wish Jade Carey a swift recovery and the best of luck as she continues to represent her country at the Games.
