# Jaida Ross
> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jaida_Ross
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jaida_Ross.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaida_Ross
> Source revision: 1317284289
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
{{Short description|American track and field athlete (born 2001)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Jaida Ross
| image = Day 9 at the 2024 United States Olympic Trials (track and field) 135 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Ross in 2024
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|10|29}}
| birth_place = [Medford, Oregon](/source/Medford%2C_Oregon), U.S.
| education = [University of Oregon](/source/University_of_Oregon) ([BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts), [MEd](/source/Master_of_Education))
| height = 5 ft 7 in
| weight =
| country = {{USA}}
| sport = [Athletics (track and field)](/source/Track_and_Field)
| event = {{ubl|[Shot put](/source/Shot_put)|[Discus](/source/Discus)}}
| universityteam = [Oregon Ducks](/source/Oregon_Ducks)
| turnedpro = April 2025
| coach = [Brian Blutreich](/source/Brian_Blutreich) (2022–present)
| highestranking = {{ubl|6th (shot put, 2025)[{{cite web |url=https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/jaida-ross_1965875 |title=ROSS Jaida |work=[Paris 2024 Olympics](/source/Paris_2024_Olympics) |access-date=13 January 2025 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007130023/https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/jaida-ross_1965875 |archive-date=October 7, 2024}}] is an American [track and field](/source/track_and_field) athlete who competes in [shot put](/source/shot_put) and [discus throw](/source/discus_throw).[{{cite web |url=https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/jaida-ross-14850442 |website=World Athletics |access-date=May 24, 2024 |title=Jaida Ross}}] She represented the [United States](/source/United_States_national_olympic_track_and_field_team) at the [2024 Summer Olympics](/source/2024_Summer_Olympics) in [Paris](/source/Paris), where she placed fourth in women's shot put, and was the [2024 NCAA Division I champion](/source/2024_NCAA_Division_I_Outdoor_Track_and_Field_Championships) in the event. Ross was the first collegiate woman to break {{T&Fcalc|20}} in shot put.[{{Cite web |last=Hof-Mahoney |first=Paul |date=June 4, 2024 |title=Catching Up With Shot Put Collegiate Record Holder Jaida Ross |url=https://citiusmag.com/articles/catching-up-with-collegiate-record-holder-jaida-ross |access-date=August 27, 2024 |website=CITIUS Mag |language=en}}][{{Cite web |last=Clarke |first=Ross |date=May 24, 2024 |title=Medford's Ross breaks own NCAA record |url=https://www.rv-times.com/sports/medfords-ross-breaks-own-ncaa-record/article_7f1e40d4-1a01-11ef-a04e-779879949831.html |access-date=August 27, 2024 |website=Rogue Valley Times |language=en}}]
==Early life and education==
Ross was born on October 29, 2001, in [Medford, Oregon](/source/Medford%2C_Oregon), to mother Amanda Krug, a mental health professional.[{{Cite web |last=Storm |first=Emily |date=August 5, 2024 |title=Mom invites community to cheer on Jaida Ross |url=https://kobi5.com/news/top-stories/mom-invites-community-to-cheer-on-jaida-ross-243071/ |access-date=August 27, 2024 |website=KOBI-TV NBC5 |language=en-US}}][{{Cite web |last=Clarke |first=Ryan |date=June 25, 2024 |title=Seeking first Olympics bid, Ross finds her center |url=https://www.rv-times.com/sports/seeking-first-olympics-bid-ross-finds-her-center/article_06097cb8-3383-11ef-954b-2f9b68e806c4.html |access-date=August 27, 2024 |website=Rogue Valley Times |language=en}}] She has a twin sister named Jazzlyn.[{{cite web |last=Ulmer |first=Jerry |date=May 1, 2020 |title=Girls track: For UO-bound Ross, season was filled with promise |url=https://www.osaa.org/today/article/1668/view |access-date=May 24, 2024 |website=OSAAtoday}}]
Ross graduated from [North Medford High School](/source/North_Medford_High_School) in 2020, where she was one of the top throwers in the country.[{{cite web |last=Denney |first=Jarrid |date=June 9, 2022 |title=Oregon's Jaida Ross becomes All-American, places fifth in shot put at NCAA Championships |url=https://www.on3.com/teams/oregon-ducks/news/oregons-jaida-ross-becomes-all-american-places-fifth-in-shot-put-at-ncaa-championships/ |access-date=May 24, 2024 |website=Scoop Duck}}][{{cite web |last=Clarke |first=Ryan |date=May 24, 2024 |title=Oregon Ducks thrower Jaida Ross breaks own NCAA record in shot put, surpassing 20 meters |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2024/05/oregon-ducks-thrower-jaida-ross-breaks-own-ncaa-record-in-shot-put-surpassing-20-meters.html?outputType=amp |access-date=May 24, 2024 |website=Oregon Live}}][{{Cite web |last=Elfman |first=Lois |date=2025-06-05 |title=Community Counts, Female Sport Scholar of the Year |url=https://www.diverseeducation.com/home/article/15747385/community-counts-female-sport-scholar-of-the-year |access-date=2025-07-12 |website=Diverse: Issues In Higher Education |language=en-us}}][{{Cite web |last=Henry |first=Kris |date=2025-07-08 |title=Medford's Jaida Ross sends powerful message with shot put exploits |url=https://rv-times.com/2025/07/08/medfords-jaida-ross-sends-powerful-message-with-shot-put-exploits/ |access-date=2025-07-12 |website=Rogue Valley Times |language=en}}] She hopes to follow in her mother's steps to work in a helping profession in the future.[{{Cite web |last=Shontz |first=Lori |date=June 24, 2024 |title=Oregon's Jaida Ross in Position to 'Shake Things Up' in Women's Shot Put |url=https://www.runnerspace.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=44531&do=news&news_id=669260 |access-date=August 27, 2024 |website=DyeStat}}]
==Career==
=== 2020–2025: Collegiate career & Paris Olympics ===
Despite the cancelation of her senior season at North Medford High School due to the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic) in 2020, Ross embarked on her collegiate career at the [University of Oregon](/source/University_of_Oregon), competing in shot put and discus for the [Oregon Ducks](/source/Oregon_Ducks_track_and_field) starting in the 2021 season.[{{cite web |last=Hansen |first=Chris |date=June 5, 2022 |title=Oregon's Jaida Ross, Kemba Nelson shine at NCAA Track & Field Championship |url=https://eu.registerguard.com/story/sports/college/track-field/2022/06/10/oregons-ducks-jaida-ross-kemba-nelson-shine-at-ncaa-womens-track-field-championships-roundup/65360006007/ |access-date=May 24, 2024 |website=The Register-Guard}}]
In July 2023, she beat [Jalani Davis](/source/Jalani_Davis) to win gold in shot put at the [2023 U23 NACAC Championship](/source/2023_NACAC_U18_and_U23_Championships_in_Athletics) with a throw of {{T&Fcalc|18.35}}.[{{cite web |last=Boal |first=Erik |date=July 22, 2023 |title=Cavanaugh's Double, Brahe-Pedersen's Record, 5,000 and Shot Put Sweeps Part of 11 U.S. Golds to Open NACAC U23 Championships |url=https://www.runnerspace.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=44531&do=news&news_id=665757 |access-date=May 24, 2024 |website=DyeStat}}]
In April 2024, Ross set a new NCAA record in the women's shot put at the Triton Invitational in [La Jolla, California](/source/La_Jolla%2C_California), with a throw of {{T&Fcalc|19.71}}, breaking the record set by [Adelaide Aquilla](/source/Adelaide_Aquilla) in 2022.[{{cite web |last=Hansen |first=Chris |date=April 7, 2024 |title=Oregon Duck Jaida Ross becomes women's collegiate record holder in the shot put |url=https://www.aol.com/oregon-duck-jaida-ross-becomes-152801751.html |access-date=May 24, 2024 |website=The Register-Guard}}][{{cite web |last=Hansen |first=Chris |date=May 2, 2024 |title=Oregon shot putter Jaida Ross rises to throw farther than anyone in collegiate history |url=https://eu.registerguard.com/story/sports/college/track-field/2024/05/02/oregon-shot-putter-jaida-ross/73527265007/ |access-date=May 24, 2024 |website=The Register-Guard}}] The next month, in May 2024, Ross broke her own NCAA shot put record at the 2024 NCAA Division I West First Rounds, with a throw of {{T&Fcalc|20.01}}.[{{cite web |url=https://www.flotrack.org/articles/12571711-jaida-ross-breaks-ncaa-shot-put-record-at-west-regionals |website=Flo Track |access-date=May 24, 2024 |date=May 24, 2024 |title=Jaida Ross Breaks NCAA Shot Put Record At West Regionals |first=Kylie |last=Rodriguez}}] In doing so, she became the first collegiate woman to pass the 20-meter mark in shot put, and just the seventh woman in American history.[{{cite web |url=https://www.dyestat.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=44531&do=videos&video_id=392390 |website=Dyestat |access-date=May 24, 2024 |title=Jaida Ross 1st Place Women's Shot Put - Collegiate Record 65-7.75 (20.01 m) - NCAA D1 West Outdoor Preliminary Round 2024 |date=May 24, 2024}}]
Ross was the [2024 NCAA Division I outdoor champion](/source/2024_NCAA_Division_I_Outdoor_Track_and_Field_Championships) in shot put, with a throw of {{T&Fcalc|19.57}}, and placed second at the [indoor championships](/source/2024_NCAA_Division_I_Indoor_Track_and_Field_Championships), with a throw of {{T&Fcalc|18.47}}.[{{Cite web |title=Event Index: Women Shot Put |url=https://flashresults.ncaa.com/Indoor/2025/031-1_compiled.htm |access-date=March 18, 2025 |website=2025 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships |date=March 16, 2025}}]
=== 2025–present: Professional career ===
Ross turned pro in April 2025, announcing that month that she had signed with [Nike](/source/Nike%2C_Inc.).[{{Cite web |last=@jaida_uothrows |date=April 20, 2025 |title=I’m super excited to announce that I’ve officially signed with @nikerunning… |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DIsGdluzGEf/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== |access-date=April 27, 2025 |website=Instagram}}] She participated in her first [Diamond League](/source/2025_Diamond_League) events that year, taking part in the [Xiamen](/source/2025_Xiamen_Diamond_League), [Shanghai](/source/2025_Shanghai_Diamond_League), and [Zürich](/source/2025_Weltklasse_Z%C3%BCrich) events, and placing third with a personal best of {{T&Fcalc|20.13}} at the [2025 Prefontaine Classic](/source/2025_Prefontaine_Classic) in [Eugene, Oregon](/source/Eugene%2C_Oregon).[{{cite web|url=https://worldathletics.org/competitions/diamond-league/news/chebet-world-5000m-record-eugene-sub-14-prefontaine-classic|website=World Athletics|accessdate=6 July 2025|title= World records for Chebet at 5000m and Kipyegon at 1500m in Eugene|date=5 July 2025}}]
Ross placed fourth at the [2025 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships](/source/2025_USA_Outdoor_Track_and_Field_Championships), which earned her a trip to the [2025 World Athletics Championships](/source/2025_World_Athletics_Championships); USA teammate [Chase Jackson](/source/Chase_Jackson) placed first, but received a wildcard entry as the reigning world champion, freeing up a spot for Ross in the competition.[{{cite web|url= https://www.oregonlive.com/trackandfield/2025/08/olympic-gold-medalist-cole-hocker-finishes-third-at-usa-track-championships-2025.html?outputType=amp|website=Oregon Live|accessdate=3 August 2025|title= USA Track & Field Championships 2025: Jonah Koech upsets Cole Hocker in 1,500|date=Aug 2, 2025}}] Ross placed eighth in shot put with a throw of {{T&Fcalc|19.01}} at the [2025 World Championships](/source/2025_World_Athletics_Championships_%E2%80%93_Women's_shot_put) in [Tokyo](/source/Tokyo), Japan.[{{cite web|url= https://worldathletics.org/competition/calendar-results/results/7190593?eventId=10229530&gender=W |website=World Athletics|accessdate=21 September 2025|title= World Athletics Championships, Tokyo 2025|date=13 Sep 2025}}]
== Personal life ==
Growing up, Ross looked up to Olympic gold medal shot putter [Michelle Carter](/source/Michelle_Carter_(athlete)), saying, "I love what she does for the throws world, I love what she does for the Black community."[{{Cite web |last=Hansen |first=Chris |date=June 28, 2024 |title=U.S. Olympic Trials Day 8: Oregon star Jaida Ross takes center stage in women's shot put |url=https://www.registerguard.com/story/sports/pro/track-field/2024/06/28/jaida-ross-us-olympic-trials-debut/74214983007/ |access-date=August 27, 2024 |website=The Register-Guard |language=en-US}}] Ross competed alongside Carter at the [2022 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships](/source/2022_USA_Outdoor_Track_and_Field_Championships), Ross' first championships and Carter's last before retiring from competition.