“Dedicated, jovial, kind hearted and determined are a few words that best describe me. Those characteristics and traits help me to be successful academically, socially, spiritually and athletically.”
Bahamian Gymnast, Kianna Imani
Dean was born in March 1997 and is the oldest child of father Kevan and mother Anita and she has one brother, Koen. There has always been a special place in Kianna's heart for gymnastics as she has been involved with the sport of gymnastics since
2004. At the completion of her 11th grade year as an honor roll student at Aquinas College High School in Nassau, Kianna decided to embrace the love in her heart for gymnastics and make some important training and development decisions. In August
of 2013 at the age of 16, she decided to follow her dreams in the sport, moving 1273 miles away from home to Battle Creek, MI better her training without her family to finish her last year of high school and better position her for future opportunities. This
was a very difficult move for her exchanging tropical climate and white sandy beaches for sometimes bitter cold and snow. Many challenges and obstacles arose, however, she managed to make it through a successful level 8 gymnastics season, as well as a successful
senior year of high school. Kianna is extremely passionate about her goals, hoping to one day take gymnastics to a new level for the Bahamas. She aspire to be the first Female Elite Gymnast to compete on a World and Olympic stage representing The Bahamas.
Kianna continued her academic success after transitioning to the US academic system and received an academic award and recognition of excellence in Economics, Art III and Chemistry and will graduate with at a 3.3GPA in her 12th grade
year. Kianna was accepted to Western Michigan University (WMU), where she is majoring in Biology and hopes to later become a Veterinarian and currently maintains a 3.3 GPA. During her time in Michigan, she trained at Branch Gymnastics 20 - 25
hours per week while attending WMU.
Kianna relocated to Florida in the Spring of 2015, closer to family and home and to train at Park Avenue Gymnastics under training and development coach Kathy Semok who she's trained with during her early development
years. She has set high goals not simply for herself, but for more people than she could ever imagine.
In August 2014 she was one of three gymnast selected to compete for the Bahamas at the Senior Pan Am Championship and as a result
will be the first Bahamian Gymnast to represent the Bahamas at the 2015 Pan Am Games in July in Toronto Canada. She hopes to be the selected gymnast to represent the Bahamas in the 2015 World Gymnastics Championship in Glasgow, Scotland amongst other
possible opportunities to represent the Bahamas as the program continues to develop and excel.
Kianna is a Christian and believes that all things are possible through Christ, Philippians 4:13. Kianna is committed to her faith and attends church
regularly and above all contributes her success to the almighty God.