RACHEL JOYCE WALLER FOUNDATION

Rachel first discovered wheel gymnastics after seeing a video online in the mid-2010s. Drawn to the challenge and creativity of the sport, she began simply for fitness, but quickly set her sights higher.

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• In 2013, inspired by the World Championships in Chicago, Rachel decided to pursue competing with Team USA.

• With determination and strength, she represented the U.S. at the 2015 World Championships in Lignano, Italy, and again in 2016 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

• Beyond competing, Rachel became a coach, a first aid educator, and an enthusiastic supporter of Team USA on international trips to Halifax, Canada, and Norfolk, West Virginia.

 

Even during the challenges of the pandemic, Rachel’s love for the wheel never faded—she took a wheel home to her backyard to keep rolling, a symbol of her unbreakable passion.

 

A Champion for Inclusion

 

Rachel believed wheel gymnastics was for everyone. In 2024, she began coaching athletes with special needs, opening doors and creating opportunities with kindness and patience. Her laughter, joy, and compassion lifted athletes of all levels and abilities.

 

Carrying Her Legacy Forward

 

To honor her extraordinary spirit, USA Wheel Gymnastics is proud to announce two lasting tributes:

1. The Rachel Joyce Waller Memorial Tournament – An annual event celebrating inclusion and showcasing diverse performances from the wheel community.

2. The Rachel Joyce Waller Foundation – Established through the generosity of Rachel’s family, this foundation will provide financial support to wheel athletes in need, with a special priority for athletes with special needs.

 

Through these efforts, Rachel’s mission lives on: to give every person the chance to try wheel gymnastics and to share the joy it brings.

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With Gratitude

 

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Diane Joyce and Rob Waller for making this foundation possible and for ensuring Rachel’s legacy of joy, compassion, and opportunity continues to touch lives for years to come.

 

Rachel embodied the very heart of USA Wheel: passion, inclusion, and the belief that everyone deserves the chance to roll.

 

Her spirit rolls on with us.

 

 “Rachel had the spirit of USA Wheel—let everyone try wheel who wants to try it, and make it possible to share the joy.”