Braelynn Carnes: Class of 2027

Key Takeaways and Episode Recap:

Hey! I’m Braelynn Carnes, a Level 10 gymnast from Georgia with big dreams of competing at the college level! Ever since I was two years old, gymnastics has been my total passion, teaching me how to work hard, dream big, and always aim high. My faith and my family mean everything to me, and I love being a positive, uplifting light and bringing good vibes wherever I go!

I bring that same energy to the classroom, keeping up a 4.0 GPA in Honors and Dual Enrollment classes while staying active in school clubs. When I’m not flipping in the gym or studying, you can usually find me obsessing over football while hanging out with family, traveling to new places, or laughing nonstop with my friends!

I’m looking for a college program that feels like family! A team that lifts each other up and coaches who will push me to shine as both an athlete and a student!

Episode Recap:

In this episode of The Championship Corner Podcast, Ryan Romano sits down with Braelynn Carnes, one of the original members of Gymnastics Plus, to talk about the person behind the gymnast.

Braelynn Carnes shares the values that shape how she approaches gymnastics, relationships, and life—particularly family, gratitude, and faith. Having trained at the same gym since she was about three years old, she describes her teammates as sisters, her coaches as second moms, and the gym as a second home. That close-knit environment has also helped shape what she is looking for in a future college gymnastics program: a place that genuinely feels like family.

The conversation also dives into Braelynn’s experience competing beam in the All-Star session at Nationals, where she leaned heavily on faith and gratitude to manage her nerves. Instead of focusing only on the pressure of the moment, she reminded herself that simply having the opportunity to compete on that stage was something to be grateful for.

Looking toward the upcoming season, Braelynn Carnes discusses new routines, skills, and one word that has defined her summer: intention. Rather than expecting every turn to be perfect, she is learning to focus on getting one step better every day.

That mindset shift has been especially important as she works through confidence and perfectionism. Braelynn explains that last season she sometimes knew physically that she was capable of a skill, but mentally struggled to trust herself. Now, she is working to replace perfectionism with high standards and a healthier perspective: “I get to do gymnastics. I don’t have to.”

Braelynn also talks about the resilience gymnastics has built in her. Falling, failing, trying again, and eventually succeeding has taught her lessons she believes will extend far beyond the sport.

The episode closes with Braelynn Carnes answering one powerful question: if she could stand in front of 100,000 people and leave them with only one message, what would it be?

Her answer reflects one of the biggest themes of the conversation: trust that Jesus has a plan for you, even when you can’t yet see exactly what that plan is.

Key Takeaways

• Family matters. Braelynn Carnes has spent most of her life in the same gym environment, and the relationships she has built with teammates and coaches have shaped what she values most in a future college program.
• Gratitude can change how you experience pressure. Before competing beam at Nationals, Braelynn Carnes reframed her nerves by focusing on how fortunate she was simply to have the opportunity.
• Be intentional with every turn. One of Braelynn’s biggest focuses this summer has been approaching each repetition with purpose instead of simply going through the motions.
• High standards are different from perfectionism. Braelynn Carnes is learning that she can demand a lot from herself without expecting everything to be perfect immediately.
• Failure is part of growth. As skills get harder, mistakes are inevitable. Braelynn has embraced the idea that falling or struggling doesn’t mean something is wrong—it’s often part of getting better.
• Sometimes taking a step back helps you move forward. Whether that means switching events, resetting mentally, or briefly stepping away from a frustrating skill, Braelynn has learned that regrouping can rebuild confidence and certainty.
• Gymnastics builds resilience beyond the gym. Learning to fall, get back up, and keep pursuing something difficult has shaped how Braelynn approaches school, future challenges, and life.
• Faith gives perspective beyond the present moment. Braelynn’s closing message is rooted in trusting that there is a bigger plan even during seasons when the next step isn’t completely clear.

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