She won 2 state championships.
2 different sports.
10 days apart.
Senior, Rachel Kirin is a student at Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School, who is single handedly changing the gymnastics and diving industry. She is living proof that you don’t have to limit yourself to one thing you’re good at. She is not only a champion gymnast, but also a champion diver.
Even though Rachel participates in two sports, it wasn’t always that way. She started doing gymnastics at a very young age and stuck with it.”I started gymnastics when I was only a year old. My parents just put me in it to give me something to do, and right away I just fell in love with it,” Kirin said.
When it comes to competitive sports and participating in a sport in general, mental health is really important and keeping a good and steady mindset is key to success. Kirin explains how her mindset affects her performance. She says, “I think sports challenge you physically of course, but even harder are the mental obstacles sports provide. Gymnastics knocked me down so many times but it taught me how to come back to the gym the next day and continue to work. There’s plenty of days where an athlete doesn’t feel like putting in the work or maybe you just feel like you’re not good enough at your sport; those are the hard days. But I think that’s when the sport starts to shape an athlete into the person they’re becoming.”
Along Rachel’s journey in gymnastics, she faced many challenges and obstacles that pushed her back. When she was in 8th grade, she injured her shoulder and was out for eight months. Bouncing back from that was not easy. Kirin explains, “Being injured is one of the toughest parts of being an athlete. It’s something you don’t have complete control over. I never realized how much I loved gymnastics until I was out for 8 months due to shoulder surgery. Coming back for the first time was hard but doable and I maintained all hope and motivation. It was the second surgery that made my mind start to think gymnastics wasn’t the end path for me.”
After Rachel’s second surgery, she was forced to quit club gymnastics. But with this new free time in her schedule Kirin was able to have more opportunities when it came to diving.“Quitting club gymnastics was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make, but I am grateful for the sport that’s helped me excel in diving and the new relationships and opportunities that it brought me.” says Kirin. 
When it came to starting diving, Rachel feared she wouldn’t be able to connect and build relationships with new people like she did with gymnastics. “I wanted to find a new sport, diving, that would help lead me to my goals such as becoming a D1 athlete. I also experienced doubt that I wouldn’t find teammates and coaches like I had with gymnastics,” Kirin says. “However, shortly into diving I found the most positive atmosphere. My diving teammates have grown to be my best friends, and I have had some of the best coaches ever through the sport of diving.”
Kirin’s faith plays a key role in her life and her athletics. “A big part of my athletics is my faith. Before my routines I pray and surrender my routines to the Lord. Something I say before every beam routine, ‘God is within me, I am capable.’ This reminder helps me to remain calm in stressful situations because it reminds me that God is by my side and always in control,” says Kirin.
Every athlete knows that your coach plays a major role in your performance and capabilities. Kirin says, “My coaches have the biggest impact on me. I am so blessed to have the coaches I do. I would not have any success without them. They are there for me as an athlete but also as a person—which means the world to me. They care so much about their athletes it’s incredible.”
Kirin is an inspiration to many, and truly such an amazing and talented person. She brings so much positivity and joy to the Brecksville-Broadview Heights community and her peers at school. However, when she graduates she’ll be leaving behind the sport she’s done her whole life. Despite this she’s excited to see where diving is taking her next.
Melanie • Mar 17, 2026 at 10:15 am
There have been a few articles on Rachel, but by far this is the best. Well done, Isabelle. You were able to capture so much behind the wins! Go Bees.