Honoring Fallen Gymnastics Friend, Ex-Michigan Wolverine Star Set To Tackle 26.2-Mile Challenge

Even a single gesture goes a long way. Especially, in sports, where the chance to make an impact beyond the field don’t come across easily. So when they do, ensure to grab them with both hands. Well, that’s what a particular gymnastics star is doing. She’s going above and beyond to pay tribute to someone. And it surely is one soul-stirring move.

Losing her friend in 2024 was not easy for former Michigan gymnast, Sierra Brooks. It wasn’t for anyone. But not everyone’s turning that loss into a personal mission. Well, Sierra is. She’s teamed up with a non-profit and is stepping up for those who are directly impacted by these initiatives. Confused? Let us clear it out for you.

As of March 17, Sierra Brooks, Michigan’s ex-gymnastics star has decided to run the Chicago Marathon in October as a tribute to her late friend, Kara Welsh. As per Sierra, Kara was “One of my kindest, funniest, and most supportive friends lost her life last year from an act of domestic violence. I want to continue to honor her in every way I can and this is the start.” 

Sierra even confessed, Kara Welsh was one of her closest teammates from her club gymnastics career. But when she lost her last year, it was an upsetting personal blow to her. This happened after Kara Welson was apparently shot down in her home. Thus, she says, “Running this race in her honor is one way to continue sharing her story and the impact she had on so many.” 

Thus, Sierra teamed up with The Network, a non-profit dedicated to supporting survivors and ending domestic violence. She even started a fundraiser to support the impacted people, which has already raised $1165 towards the target of $2500. She even asks people to chime in with help to give her gymnastics friend a fitting tribute by donating or even spreading the word.

Clearly, running the long and strenuous 26.2 mile Chicago Marathon course isn’t going to be easy. It’s going to demand great endurance from Sierra. But given that she is a gymnast, that should be an easy task with a slight bit of training.

Sierra and Kara were both gymnastics aces

Starting with Brooks, she is a Michigan gymnastics alum, who was a senior in the 2021 Michigan NCAA title-winning team. Next year, she was the 2022 Big Ten Gymnast of the Year and has been a 13x All-American. The same honor came to her as a graduate student in 2024, which happened to be her third consecutive Big Ten honor. In fact, Brooks had recorded 28 scores of 9.900 or better in her final season and had one perfect 10.0 on floor exercise, while also scoring six 9.975s. That’s how good a gymnast she was.

Coming to Kara Welsh, the gymnast was equally skilled. She was a University of Wisconsin-Whitewater national champion gymnast and two-time All-American, who passed away tragically in August 2024. But during her career, she was a certain master in the vault. No wonder, she holds four of the top eight scores recorded by a gymnast in the college’s program history on the apparatus.

And yes, she was a fighter too. In 2024, Welsh battled her way through an illness to compete in the WIAC Championship meet – where she had just opened her season but still set a new program record on the vault and claimed her second back-to-back title. But when it comes to Sierra giving her a tribute at the Chicago Marathon, this one’s truly a display of great love and strength. What do you think? Let us know below!