When you grow up with your parents owning a gym, exercise becomes a part of your life before you can even really remember how and when it started. But one thing is certain: From the moment Judd Carey started competing at an elite level, people quickly noticed.
Best known for her dynamic skills on vault and floor, the 24-year-old is already an eight-time member of the US Women’s National Team and the sixth most decorated American athlete. She’s a two-time World Olympian, and – oh, no big deal – the reigning Olympic champion in floor exercise. Just seven years after her international debut, Carey now finds herself one of the veterans on the US women’s five-man squad heading to Paris.
The pressure is immense and the excitement palpable. But even though fitness is a huge part of her life, Carey knows how important it is to have a life outside of the gym. In fact, it’s something she and her dad (who, funnily enough, is still her coach!) talk about a lot.
“Me and my dad have really noticed over the years that when I have the time outside of the gym to take a day or two off and focus on anything other than working out, it really helps me come into the next day feeling fresh,” he says. . “So he’s really good about giving me a day or two off every week so I don’t get too stressed.”
We had a chance to speak with Carey after her last workout at home before heading to Team USA’s training camp in Houston ahead of the Paris Olympics. Here are some of her favorite off-duty items.
1. Simple skin care
“I’m not the biggest makeup girl, I’m pretty basic and minimal,” says Carey. “But right now I’m using the Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask for moisturiser, and the Drunk Elephant B-Goldi Drops for a little glow.”
However, there is one thing that never fails: “I’m someone who always has to have something on his lips,” he says. “Most of the time it’s just Aquaphor or sometimes Summer Fridays Lip Butter Bomb for some color if I want it.”
When it comes to hair care, Carey is all-in on Olaplex products. “I feel like my hair gets greasy very quickly and it’s very thin,” she says. “I use all Olaplex products on my hair. I got my hair done one day and the lady recommended it and I’ve been hooked ever since.’
2. Netflix and laugh
“I’m definitely not a reader, except for homework,” says the college student, who attends Oregon State University (and is also a member of the women’s gymnastics team). “I’m definitely more of a TV girl. I usually watch Netflix. I like to find movies, mostly funny movies or rom-coms. These really help me escape a bit and make me feel happy. It’s definitely nice to be able to relax, watch TV and have a little laugh.”
3. Recovery products
He has a Therabody massage gun that he’ll whip out before the gym, after the gym, or whenever he’s a little sore. But there’s one recovery tool he can’t live without. “I use my NormaTech boots every day after the gym,” she says. “Being so strong, these really help my legs heal faster.”
Carey also likes to have a bit of a routine at night to help her unwind. “I feel like that’s one of the most important things for me going into the next day of training,” he says. “Usually for me that’s either taking a bath or putting on some lotion. I’m really into Tree Hut right now and all their fun scents. I have my own little spa at home.”
As for nighttime drinks, Carey says she’s a big fan of RW Knutson Just Tart Cherry Juice. “I love it for the recovery. I drink a glass of it every day, usually at night, because it helps you sleep too.”
“When I have the time out of the gym to take a day or two off and focus on anything other than working out, it really helps me come in the next day feeling fresh.” —Jade Carey
4. The essentials for the trip
One thing Carey always has when she travels? A blanket. “I definitely always bring the same – I guess I’m a bit proactive that way,” she says. “Before the last Olympics, I got a red, white and blue blanket from Creepy, and so I like to bring it wherever I go. It’s super thin and light but also comfortable.”
5. Indifferent footwear
During the summer, you can bet Carey is slipping into something comfortable outside the gym. “I’m a person who always wears slides and sandals,” she says.
She has her pair of Crocs that she wears to the gym, personalized with two Jibbitz charms (“I have a little OSU Beaver and one that says 2024.”)
“Outside of the gym, I’m a big Birkenstocks girl,” she says. “Oregon has definitely turned me into that.” He mostly wears the classic leather style, but of course he also has a pair of the Arizona EVA waterproofs. “In Oregon, we can float the rivers, so these are good for the water.”
6. Snack bag
We all have them: easy little snacks that we can throw in our bags for early mornings at the gym, late nights at the office or long days of travel. Carey has them too. “I usually grab the same two bars for a snack at the gym,” she says. “I like the That’s It fruit bars, and then I like the RX bars—the oat chocolate chip. Those are my two right now.”
7. Healthy hobbies
Carey is conscious of using her free time to help her headspace stay positive—whether it’s journaling (“I definitely like to write a lot”) or vision boarding (“I like to do this every year for to actually put my goals on paper. [This year’s has] a big Eiffel Tower in the middle, representing where I wanted to go this year. So it’s very nice.”).
But he has also found a new hobby. “Just for fun, I got into photography,” he says. “I got a camera, uh Fuji X-T5. I feel like ZERO [name, image, likeness] it’s opened up a lot of opportunities for me to be more creative, and that’s something I’ve recently learned I love doing—taking pictures. It really lets me capture what I want to capture and it’s a really good mental break from all the training I do.”
8. Charms
While we’re talking, I can’t help but notice Carey’s simple yet striking Olympic Rings necklace. “It was a gift from my mom when I made the team in 2020,” says Carey. “It’s really special and reminds me of how proud my mum is of me and how happy she is. This time, I’m really, really excited that she’s going to be able to be there.”
You can catch Jade Carey competing in women’s artistic gymnastics from July 28. NBCUniversal is the official US broadcaster for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, but you can also watch Jade Carey on Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, USA Network, CNBCand MI!
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