Kara Eaker (born November 7, 2002) is an American artistic gymnast. On the balance beam she is the 2018 Pan American and 2019 Pan American Games champion and a two-time United States national silver medalist (2018, 2019). On floor exercise she is the 2019 Pan American Games silver medalist and the 2018 Pan American bronze medalist. She was a member of the American teams that won gold at the 2018 and 2019 World Championships, the 2019 Pan American Games, and the 2018 Pan American Championships. She was an alternate for the 2020 Olympic team. Early life Eaker was born in Jiangxi, China as Kara Ming. She was adopted by her family in 2003 and has since resided with them in Missouri. Gymnastics career Junior 2017 Eaker competed at the 2017 U.S. Classic, where she placed third on balance beam and fifth in the all-around. She later competed at the 2017 U.S. National Gymnastics Championships, where she placed first on balance beam (ahead of Maile O'Keefe and Adeline Kenlin), third in the all-around, fourth on floor exercise, and fifth on uneven bars. She was then named to the Junior National Team. Senior 2018 Eaker turned senior in 2018. She competed at the American Classic, where she placed first on balance beam, second on floor exercise, and fourth in the all-around. Later in the summer, she competed at the 2018 U.S. Classic, where she placed fifth on balance beam after falling off. At the National Championships Eaker finished seventh in the all-around, second on balance beam behind Simone Biles, fifth on floor exercise, and ninth on uneven bars. As a result of her performance, she was added to the senior national team. The following day, Eaker was named to the team to compete at the Pan American Championships in Lima, Peru alongside Grace McCallum, Trinity Thomas, Jade Carey, and Shilese Jones. On the first day of competition, Eaker won the gold medal on balance beam and the bronze on floor exercise. In the team competition, Eaker contributed on these two events toward the United States' gold-medal-winning performance. In October, Eaker participated in the Worlds Team Selection Camp. During the competition, she placed first on the balance beam, sixth in the all-around, eighth on vault, ninth on uneven bars, and fifth on floor exercise. The following day, she was named to the team to compete at the 2018 World Championships alongside Simone Biles,