The Tokyo 2020 Olympics were a pressure cooker, and no one felt the heat more than Simone Biles. The gymnastics legend, with four Olympic golds and a global fanbase, was poised to dominate. Then, a wobbly vault in the team final—scoring a 13.766, changed everything. Biles, grappling with the “twisties,” a mental block that scrambles a gymnast’s mid-air instincts, made a seismic choice: she withdrew from the women’s all-around final. The world gasped. Fans buzzed, some hailing her bravery, others stunned. Amid this storm, Biles, battling self-doubt, did something extraordinary.
She turned her focus to a teammate. In an exclusive Olympics.com interview, a pivotal moment emerged that redefined her legacy. What did Biles do that left such a lasting mark?
Jade Carey, a 21-year-old Olympic rookie, was thrust into the spotlight. With Biles out, Carey, who’d qualified for the all-around final with a 57.599, faced her first major test. “I was freaking out because I’d never done anything like that before,” Carey confessed. Enter Biles, who knocked on Carey’s door with a message that cut through the chaos. “Simone came to my room and was like, ‘Hey, I can’t do this, but you can,’” Carey recalled. That raw, honest pep talk from a struggling superstar was a lifeline. Carey went on to place eighth in the all-around with a 54.199 and snag floor exercise gold with a 14.366. How did this moment shape Carey’s Olympic journey?
Carey’s voice carries gratitude as she reflects: “That was just a really powerful moment for me because I knew how much she was going through and for her to still come over and be like, ‘You got this,’ meant a lot to me because I can only imagine how hard it was for her to have to sit that out.” Biles, sidelined by her own battles, showed championship heart. Carey added, “That’s something I’ll always remember.” This wasn’t just about boosting morale; it was Biles passing the baton in a moment of vulnerability. It was Biles’ selflessness that stole the spotlight.
But this is not the first time the 28-year-old has helped another gymnast. She is frequently seen extending kind words to Jordan Chiles, and there have even been instances of the two training together. And even during the Paris Olympics, they could sense another one of their teammate struggling.
For Suni Lee, achieving that all-around gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics was sure a delight, but that brought on significant spotlight. And an unexpected burden, too. She later revealed how she was suffering from impostor syndrome, and that was something that held on to her despite achieving great heights at the Paris Olympics. However, Jordan Chiles and Simone Biles stood strong and encouraged her in a heart-to-heart ahead of the women’s team final on July 30. Lee revealed, “They were just like, ‘You need to walk out like the reigning Olympic champion.”
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the power of kind words! Call it magic or whatever you would like, it seemed to have worked for the gymnasts. And now, with the same momentum, Jade Carey marches forward.
Jade Carey still feels she has more to give
Well, Jade Carey just capped a jaw-dropping college career at Oregon State, never once falling and earning just one score below 9.800 in four seasons. Last month, she clinched the AAI Award, crowning her the nation’s top senior gymnast. Yet, at 24, Carey’s got a spark that won’t quit. She remarked, “I do, every once in a while, feel like maybe there is more to give.”
After a whirlwind of elite and NCAA glory, including a 2024 Paris team gold and vault bronze, Carey’s eyeing a break for the first time in five years. She’s skipping elite competition in 2025 to recharge, saying, “…Taking 2025 off would just help my body and mind relax a little more.” But could a third Olympic run in 2028 be calling her name?
For now, Carey’s hitting pause, craving a vacation to “unplug” and clear her mind, as she shared with Olympics.com. “I have had such an amazing career in elite and college gymnastics. I’m super happy with and proud of myself,” she said, reflecting on her Tokyo and Paris medals. While the 2028 Los Angeles Games loom, Carey’s not committing yet. “Right now, [I’m] taking time and going to see where things end up,” she noted, leaving the door ajar with, “It’s not a no, but it’s not a yes.”
Fans are buzzing—her heart’s still in the game, but she’s savoring the moment. What will Carey’s next chapter hold?
The post “I Was Freaking Out”: Simone Biles’ Teammate Makes Raw Confession on How the Olympic Icon Saved Her From Self-Doubt Spiral appeared first on EssentiallySports.
