Jaida Ross

Ross in 2024
Personal information
Born	(2001-10-29)October 29, 2001 (age 24) Medford, Oregon, U.S.
Education	University of Oregon (BA,MEd)
Height	5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Athletics (track and field)
Events	Shot put Discus
University team	Oregon Ducks
Turned pro	April 2025
Coached by	Brian Blutreich (2022–present)
Achievements and titles
Highest world ranking	6th (shot put, 2025)[1] 66th (discus, 2024)[1]
Personalbests	Shot put: 20.13 m (66 ft1⁄2 in) (Eugene, 2025)[1] Discus: 59.74 m (195 ft11+3⁄4 in) (Boulder, 2024)[1]
Medal record Women'sathletics Representing United States NACAC U23 Championships 2023 San Jose Shot put

Jaida Ross (/ˈdʒeɪdə/JAY-də; born October 29, 2001)^[2] is an Americantrack and field athlete who competes inshot put anddiscus throw.^[1] She represented theUnited States at the2024 Summer Olympics inParis, where she placed fourth in women's shot put, and was the2024 NCAA Division I champion in the event. Ross was the first collegiate woman to break 20 m (65 ft7+1⁄4 in) in shot put.^[3][4]

Ross was born on October 29, 2001, inMedford, Oregon, to mother Amanda Krug, a mental health professional.^[5][6] She has a twin sister named Jazzlyn.^[7]

Ross graduated fromNorth Medford High School in 2020, where she was one of the top throwers in the country.^[8][7] She attended theUniversity of Oregon, earning a bachelor's degree in psychology in 2024 and a master's degree inprevention science in 2025, while also competing in shot put and discus for theOregon Ducks.^[9][10][11] She hopes to follow in her mother's steps to work in a helping profession in the future.^[12]

Despite the cancelation of her senior season at North Medford High School due to theCOVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Ross embarked on her collegiate career at theUniversity of Oregon, competing in shot put and discus for theOregon Ducks starting in the 2021 season.^[3]

In 2022, Ross placed fifth in shot put at theNCAA Division I Outdoor Championships with a throw of 17.83 m (58 ft5+3⁄4 in) and 9th in discus with a throw of 53.84 m (176 ft7+1⁄2 in).^[13]

In July 2023, she beatJalani Davis to win gold in shot put at the2023 U23 NACAC Championship with a throw of 18.35 m (60 ft2+1⁄4 in).^[14]

In April 2024, Ross set a new NCAA record in the women's shot put at the Triton Invitational inLa Jolla, California, with a throw of 19.71 m (64 ft7+3⁄4 in), breaking the record set byAdelaide Aquilla in 2022.^[15][16] 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 20.01 m (65 ft7+3⁄4 in).^[17] 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.^[18]

Ross was the2024 NCAA Division I outdoor champion in shot put, with a throw of 19.57 m (64 ft2+1⁄4 in), and placed second at theindoor championships, with a throw of 18.47 m (60 ft 7 in).^[1]

Ross came in third atU.S. Olympic Trials with a throw of 19.60 m (64 ft3+1⁄2 in), qualifying her for the2024 Summer Olympics inParis, alongside teammatesChase Jackson andRaven Saunders.^[1] At the Olympics, she placed fourth in shot put with a throw of 19.28 m (63 ft 3 in).^[1]

In her final NCAA competition, Ross placed second at the2025 Division I Indoor Championships with a throw of 18.98 m (62 ft 3 in), a personal best;Oregon was also the team champion.^[19]

Ross turned pro in April 2025, announcing that month that she had signed withNike.^[20] She participated in her firstDiamond League events that year, taking part in theXiamen,Shanghai, andZürich events, and placing third with a personal best of 20.13 m (66 ft1⁄2 in) at the2025 Prefontaine Classic inEugene, Oregon.^[21]

Ross placed fourth at the2025 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which earned her a trip to the2025 World Athletics Championships; USA teammateChase Jackson placed first, but received a wildcard entry as the reigning world champion, freeing up a spot for Ross in the competition.^[22] Ross placed eighth in shot put with a throw of 19.01 m (62 ft4+1⁄4 in) at the2025 World Championships inTokyo, Japan.^[23]

Growing up, Ross looked up to Olympic gold medal shot putterMichelle Carter, saying, "I love what she does for the throws world, I love what she does for the Black community."^[24] Ross competed alongside Carter at the2022 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Ross' first championships and Carter's last before retiring from competition.^[24]

All results are fromWorld Athletics.

Representing the United States

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Result	Notes
2023	NACAC U23 Championships	San Jose, Costa Rica	1st	Shot put	18.35 m (60 ft2+1⁄4 in)	—N/a
2024	Olympic Games	Paris, France	4th	Shot put	19.28 m (63 ft 3 in)	—N/a
2025	World Championships	Tokyo, Japan	8th	Shot put	19.01 m (62 ft4+1⁄4 in)	—N/a

• Jaida Ross atWorld Athletics
• Jaida Ross atwww.USATF.org
• Jaida Ross atTeam USA
• Jaida Ross atOlympics.com

• 2001 births
• Living people
• American women shot putters
• Olympic track and field athletes for the United States
• Athletes (track and field) at the 2024 Summer Olympics
• African-American track and field athletes
• American twins
• Oregon Ducks women's track and field athletes
• People from Medford, Oregon
• Track and field athletes from Oregon
• 21st-century American sportswomen
• 21st-century African-American sportswomen
• World Athletics Championships athletes for the United States

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use mdy dates from August 2024
• Use American English from August 2024
• All Wikipedia articles written in American English
• Team USA template using new ID