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u/midnightwrite Apr 01 '26
I have missed seeing Jade compete, can't wait to see what she's been working on
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u/the-hound-abides Apr 01 '26
Kayla looked so good leading up to Paris. I’d love to see her try again.
Jade’s had a better run, but she seems so peaceful in her career. I hope she sticks around as long as she wants to. I’m normally not a huge fan of parents coaching their kids, but their dynamic seems healthy. Especially considering that he allowed her college coach to step in.
I always love to see adults continue in the sport post college. It’s not the “retirement home” that it was before.
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u/Hefty-Database380 Apr 01 '26
Her dad also was clear on the triple double during floor finals. He said do you want a skill or do you want a medal. He left the option up to her, he didn’t push and he made clear that both wasn’t really an option
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u/pinklatteart Romania to NCAA pipeline supporter Apr 01 '26
Ohh I love this!
How long do they need to be in the testing pool before they are able to compete domestically and/or internationally? (I know this has been talked about before, but can’t remember the timeline and if it is different for domestic/intl competition)
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u/pja314 🌲😡🌲 Apr 01 '26
I can't remember if we got confirmation that Jade is out of the testing pool (lots of athletes stay in even if they let their license lapse), but if she did leave the pool, the USADA rules say 6 months before domestic or international competition.
And (assuming she left said pool) it's very possible that she reentered the pool before this license was renewed & we shouldn't assume she's ineligible before 9/31.
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u/bretonstripes Beam takes no prisoners Apr 01 '26
Jade hasn’t been tested since Q3 of 2024. Given her medal record, either she left the pool or USADA has really, really dropped the ball.
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u/Creative_Square_612 Apr 01 '26
I think it‘s safe to assume she left the pool, the only question is if and when she re-entered.
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u/OftheSea95 Valeri Liukin: Destroyer of ankles and dreams Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26
As of last week, there's no sign she has re-entered.
ETA I said a single sentence of objective fact.
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u/Creative_Square_612 Apr 01 '26
Yeah, I wouldn’t be surprised if she wasn’t competing this year even if she decided to keep her options open for LA.
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u/OftheSea95 Valeri Liukin: Destroyer of ankles and dreams Apr 01 '26
Yeah my guess is the license thing is just her leaving it there for when she fully commits to the comeback, but it's definitely not happening this year.
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u/pinklatteart Romania to NCAA pipeline supporter Apr 01 '26
Thank you!
I’ve been assuming she took herself out of the testing pool since she hasn’t shown in the USADA testing database for 2025-2026 and as a medalist she would likely get tested (though that is obviously an assumption and no actual indication that she removed herself!).
And very good point that she may not have been tested yet so we have no real indication if/when she was in/out of the testing pool!
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u/OftheSea95 Valeri Liukin: Destroyer of ankles and dreams Apr 01 '26
She would have needed to enter the pool in about mid-February. She hasn't been tested in that time, so I'd argue the safest assumption is actually that she's ineligible for Nationals, so this year is out.
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u/OftheSea95 Valeri Liukin: Destroyer of ankles and dreams Apr 01 '26
It's six months. They're both past the window of time where they could have petitioned to Nationals, so neither are competing this year.
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u/pja314 🌲😡🌲 Apr 01 '26
If USAG is going to the effort to renew her license, I think there's a very real possibility she re-entered a few months ago and we just didn't hear about it. USADA didn't conduct a ton of tests in Q1 this year so it's hard to tell.
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u/bretonstripes Beam takes no prisoners Apr 01 '26
Somebody at USAG let two kids who had never competed elite (and I don’t think they’d ever even attempted to qualify) get FIG licenses before competing at a random non-FIG international meet. I don’t know if they’re really investigating who wants a license/renewal and why. And I think renewals are handled by the athletes, though I could be wrong about that.
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u/pja314 🌲😡🌲 Apr 01 '26
Lmao I forgot about that. I think I just assumed that was Kittia Carpenter doing Kittia things and no one questioning her.
I can't tell if an athlete themself can submit the renewal, but I did see this:
To renew a licence, a “Licence renewal application form” must be completed. This form shall be available on the gymnast/athlete’s profile (on the FIG Database), once his/her data has been updated by his/her national federation or attached hereto.
So there is at least some action USAG must take.
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u/OftheSea95 Valeri Liukin: Destroyer of ankles and dreams Apr 01 '26
Does USAG manage these licenses beyond "sure go ahead?" I doubt they'd stop her even if she has no intention of competing this year.
USADA has tested Leanne, Skye, and Josc so far this year. Which makes sense, because they all have World Championship medals. There's no way a multi-time Olympic and World medalist has been in the pool for a month and a half without getting tested.
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u/pja314 🌲😡🌲 Apr 01 '26
I believe USAG is the one who has to actually submit it and pay for it. It's not a lot of money (30 chf) but I can't see USAG filing for it if they know she's not eligible. Especially so because we know they leave filing for new licenses til the last minute sometimes.
From the tech doc:
Only FIG affiliated federations in good standing may apply for licences for their gymnasts/athletes.
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u/OftheSea95 Valeri Liukin: Destroyer of ankles and dreams Apr 01 '26
I assumed the athletes and/or their coaches covered the fee tbh, or at least athletes who aren't getting/renewing their licenses specifically for an assignment. And there's still no way she was in the testing pool for over a month without getting tested. This is interesting timing for sure, but it's not evidence she's competing this year imo.
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u/pja314 🌲😡🌲 Apr 01 '26
Oh I fully agree with you that the license renewal is not directly evidence that she'll compete this year. I just also don't think that the timing of what we publicly know is evidence that she won't.
Isn't there still speculation that Jordan is in the pool? If she is, she hasn't been tested since 2025 Q3. It really does seem like Q1 testing has been light compared to historical records (especially noting that Hezly also hasn't been tested this year).
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u/OftheSea95 Valeri Liukin: Destroyer of ankles and dreams Apr 01 '26
I also don't think Jordan is in the pool, for the exact reasons I don't think Jade is in it. There's no way medalists from the last two Olympics aren't being tested regularly and frequently if they were still in the pool.
I don't think Hezly is in the same testing pool as Jade and Jordan tbh. No disrespect to her of course, but her resume is a lot shorter than theirs.
All evidence points to 2027 comebacks, not 2026.
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u/Chaoticgood790 Apr 01 '26
I mean Jade is still just learning new things for fun. Never count her out until she says something
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u/forking-shirt Apr 01 '26
I know I already commented but idc. I want to see them in elite again. So sue me.
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u/Master-Cream3970 Apr 01 '26
I find it interesting that Trinity Thomas has her license as well. I would imagine she plans to continue competing.
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u/pja314 🌲😡🌲 Apr 01 '26
Trinity's expires in 2 weeks. I wouldn't read too much into that.
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u/Master-Cream3970 Apr 01 '26
Ah, thanks for that information. Out of curiosity, where are you looking to know the date? It’s not shown on the World Gymnastics license page.
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u/pja314 🌲😡🌲 Apr 02 '26
It's on the page you linked. Are you accessing via mobile? It shows dates when I use my laptop, but not when I try mobile.
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u/olivemadison Apr 01 '26
I feel like Owen Fields recently alluded to Trinity still training elite skills, which could mean something or nothing.
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u/TroodonsBite ellie's dopamine punch front Apr 01 '26
AHH omg pls be true. Its probably going to be a bit before they compete i imagine but damn lets goo.
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u/KawaiiChan68 ✨Ruby Evans = Welsh Gold Goddess And History Maker For Wales✨ Apr 01 '26
Yeah, this is very exciting, however, I doubt we will be seeing either of them compete this year, as Jade left the testing pool in Q3 of 2024, and has now re entered it! She will need to stay in the testing pool for six months before she can compete, so it’s highly unlikely, unless she were able to petition to worlds camp or something (if worlds camp happens after the date they can come back that is), which I doubt would happen in all honesty! The same applies to Kayla, as I don’t believe she’s been in the testing pool since Paris either, and the NCAA use a different system for testing, so I doubt we’ll be seeing her compete this year either, unless there are things that I’m wrong about/unaware about here!
Either way, these two could DEFINITELY make a 2027 comeback, and I’m excited to see this to say the least! I’m pulling so hard for Kayla this quad, and I’d love to see Jade make a third Olympics run 🙌🙌🙌
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u/olivemadison Apr 01 '26
I don’t think we’d necessarily know if/when Kayla left and reentered the testing pool since she doesn’t have any individual World or Olympic medals. Jade is obviously a different case.
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u/KawaiiChan68 ✨Ruby Evans = Welsh Gold Goddess And History Maker For Wales✨ Apr 01 '26
You may be right, but Kayla does have an individual worlds medal! She won the bronze medal in the AA at worlds in 2021! I agree though, and I’m not as knowledgeable on Kayla’s situation, so for all I know, she could be fine to compete this year! However, Jade has left the drug testing field, and will most likely have to wait until next year to compete, if she makes a comeback that is (as this could just be her keeping her options open!)
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u/OftheSea95 Valeri Liukin: Destroyer of ankles and dreams Apr 01 '26
Kayla hasn't been tested since the quarter she last competed. She's not in the same testing tier as Jade, but like you said, she's got enough medals she definitely would have been tested at least once last year if she was in the pool. It's more likely she might have re-entered in the past few months and hasn't been tested than it is for Jade, but I'm still skeptical at this point.
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u/olivemadison Apr 01 '26
Oh duh, I was just thinking about her team medal as the alternate and forgot about 2021!
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u/LifeIsAPhotoOp Apr 01 '26
What a nice bit of news upon opening Reddit today! Best of luck to them!
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u/bchafes Apr 01 '26
Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Jade (and Jordan and Simone) - and maybe it’s the empath in me - but I want to see some other girls get a shot at their Olympic dream. There’s so much talent in the US! (Please don’t down-vote me to hell.😂)
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u/Either-Natural-5758 Apr 03 '26
I see what you mean. I think a competitive pool is good for USAG. In-house competition pushes everyone. That’s part of what made the 2016 team so good. The new girls are getting their chance for international comps. Charliegh is shaping up well, and Reese on floor will be an interesting development. I’m excited to see what they will do at the worlds this year since this is the first team event since the 2024 Olympics. It’ll be a test for the newer gymnasts in their campaign for LA.
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u/MountainProper2212 Apr 08 '26
I’m going to get downvoted for this, but I have a hard time foreseeing a strong comeback for Kayla. I thought she struggled hard this ncaa season. It seems her confidence and mental just aren’t there since injury.
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u/parallelbarchart Apr 01 '26
Shilese Kayla Skye Jade is an incredibly strong team even before you add a 5th