Jaida Ross

Early life and education Ross was born on October 29, 2001, in Medford, Oregon, to mother Amanda Krug, a mental health professional. She has a twin sister named Jazzlyn.

Ross graduated from North Medford High School in 2020, where she was one of the top throwers in the country. She hopes to follow in her mother's steps to work in a helping profession in the future.

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 in 2020, Ross embarked on her collegiate career at the University of Oregon, competing in shot put and discus for the Oregon Ducks starting in the 2021 season.

In July 2023, she beat Jalani Davis to win gold in shot put at the 2023 U23 NACAC Championship with a throw of .

In April 2024, Ross set a new NCAA record in the women's shot put at the Triton Invitational in La Jolla, California, with a throw of , breaking the record set by Adelaide Aquilla in 2022. 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 . 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.

Ross was the 2024 NCAA Division I outdoor champion in shot put, with a throw of , and placed second at the indoor championships, with a throw of .

2025–present: Professional career Ross turned pro in April 2025, announcing that month that she had signed with Nike. She participated in her first Diamond League events that year, taking part in the Xiamen, Shanghai, and Zürich events, and placing third with a personal best of at the 2025 Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon.

Ross placed fourth at the 2025 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which earned her a trip to the 2025 World Athletics Championships; USA teammate Chase Jackson placed first, but received a wildcard entry as the reigning world champion, freeing up a spot for Ross in the competition. Ross placed eighth in shot put with a throw of at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

Personal life Growing up, Ross looked up to Olympic gold medal shot putter Michelle Carter, saying, "I love what she does for the throws world, I love what she does for the Black community." Ross competed alongside Carter at the 2022 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Ross' first championships and Carter's last before retiring from competition.

Competition history All results are from World Athletics.

International competitions

National competitions

NCAA competitions