Amid Untimely Retirement, 20-Year-Old Kara Eaker Rebrands Herself as a Force Against Abusers

The 20-year-old gymnastics prodigy, Kara Eaker, has clinched many staunch achievements in her beloved arena. The 20-year-old gymnast is well known for being the 2018 Pan American and 2019 Pan American Games champion. In 2021, she was also the alternate for Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics.

Her success is the result of the dedication and hard work she has given to her sport. However, recently, due to unprecedented circumstances, Eaker posted a heartbreaking update on her social media and announced her retirement. The reason behind the decision came with even more painful news from the young, talented star. And now, in her most recent update, she has rebranded herself and is using it to stand against abusers.

Kara Eaker rebrands herself after untimely retirement

In a recent post on X by?Gymnastics Now, the handle wrote, ?Kara Eaker has updated her Instagram bio after her letter.” In her bio, Kara Eaker wrote, ?I am speaking up against abusers! I ask that you stand with me against perpetrators and fight with me for change! Together, we can make a difference!?.

Eaker is now on a mission of advocacy. She is taking a stand against abusers and has asked fans and fellow athletes to join her mission to put an end to the atrocities so that what has happened to her will not continue with others. This comes just hours after she called out and spoke up about the heartbreaking events that led to her retirement.

Advocating against the injustice she has faced

Just hours before her updated bio, Kara Eaker shared an Instagram post that shocked the gymnastics community. She said, ?Today I’m announcing my retirement from the University of Utah gymnastics team, the sport of gymnastics, and my withdrawal as a student at the University of Utah. I accepted an athletic scholarship to the University of Utah because I truly believed the school was a place where I could contribute to the community, be a strong asset to the gymnastics team, and be free to develop myself and my future career. For two years, while training with the Utah Gymnastics Team, I was a victim of verbal and emotional abuse. As a result, my physical, mental, and emotional health has rapidly declined?.

In her carousel post, she shared her traumatic experience under her coach, who she said intimidated her with harsh training strategies and even used ?condescending, sarcastic, and manipulative tactics?. She spoke about how the loud outbursts by her mentor would often make her freeze in fear.

She even mentioned that this caused her to have anxiety and depression and has also resulted in ?panic attacks, PTSD, and night terrors?. She further said that she was a hard-working and well-accomplished athlete and was proud to even represent America. She expressed her pride in being dedicated and her will to work for her dreams.

Read more: Years After Being Fat-Shamed, Jordan Chiles Voices Never-Heard-Before Aspects of Her Gymnastics Journey

She then said that she is voicing her thoughts and calling out this abuse to ?stop the cycle of abuse and the men who threaten girls and women in all sports?. Eaker then urged more athletes to speak up and call out the injustices. In her bio, she has created a Linktree profile to help people find the help they are looking for, with options like the National Domestic Hotline, the Emotional Abuse Hotline, and other helpful information.

Watch this story: Simone Left Disheartened Missing Out on an Important Event Days After Her World Championship Victory