While others, including Olympic champions Kyla Ross, Madison Kocian, and Suni Lee, have won Olympic gold medals before beginning their collegiate careers, Carey and Chiles are the first to do it in the midst of their time at their respective universities.
Each took a different path: Carey competed in the 2024 season while simultaneously preparing for the competitions that would decide the Paris squad; Chiles returned to her training base in Texas, putting her collegiate career on pause.
Those differing approaches, says Carey, can be instructive to women like Joscelyn Roberson, Skye Blakely, and others who have indicated they want to continue their elite careers while competing in college.
“It’s not always going to be easy, and it’s going to look different than everybody else. But if it’s something that you really want to do, you can make it happen,” Carey said. “One thing that my dad [and coach, Brian Carey] always said to me was, ‘The plan is in pencil so we can go back and erase it.’”
For Chiles, balancing elite and NCAA training, a focus on self is of the utmost importance.
“I will tell you guys, it is very hard,” she says with a laugh. “So, really pay attention to your mental health and as much self-care and time management as you can because it is a very time-consuming thing… but if you just put your mind in the best state possible, you’ll be able to do it.”
No matter the outcome, Chiles has clear hopes for anyone trying to follow in her and Carey’s footsteps: “Enjoy each and every moment as best as you can.”
