Young gymnast Sienna Santiago is on track to follow the path of compatriot Raegan Rutty, though Cayman’s first Olympian in gymnastics expects the teen to go even farther in the sport.

Santiago, at just 14 years old, will lead her team at two competitions later this year, including the Island Games this summer, where she is expected to earn her nation’s first medal in the sport by a female athlete.

She was first inspired by American gymnast and 2012 Olympic all-around champion Gabby Douglas, who she watched on TV.

“That was someone I really liked,” Santiago told the Compass. “I saw her movie ‘[The Gabby Douglas Story’] and I thought it was really nice, and I was like I want to be like her.”

This came after Santiago had already found her place at Motions Unlimited Gym, where she started when she was just 2 years old.

Her coach, Alison Laidler, said from a very early age, Santiago showed great promise and displayed rare talent.

“She started play dates and we started noticing her because she was running and trying to tumble and trying to flip so we told [her parents], you need to get her into classes,” Laidler told the Compass.

Santiago began practising at 5 years old and she consistently trains 15 to 20 hours a week.

“She’s always been dedicated, she always has a good attitude, she works well with all of her teammates. In the gym we always call it ‘Sienna logic’. If anyone is having a problem, just go speak to Sienna,” Laidler added.

“If you’re not comfortable with trying a skill or just being scared to do something, go to Sienna because she is not scared, she’s capable, able to do all these things.”

Her skills translated to success at competitions, and her recent tournament schedule has kept her very busy representing Cayman. On 1 Feb., she placed third All-Around (AA) at the Virginia Beach Classic in her second time competing as a level 8 gymnast.

Her debut as a level 8 athlete was in December, when she competed at the Challenge Invitational in Florida, and captured first place in the AA with a score of 36.4. Prior to that, she finished first in all her events at the Fall Gasparilla Classic in Florida.

‘She is more talented’
Though Santiago was mesmerized by Douglas’ performances that she watched on television from miles away, she also had someone right at home to look up to.

“So obviously Raegan [Rutty],” Santiago said when asked who her biggest idol was growing up. She watched Rutty when she was just starting out and that admiration only grew after Rutty became the first gymnast to represent the Cayman Islands at the Olympic Games.

“Going to the Olympics is very motivational because seeing someone who also came from where we came from, I think that’s also very … encouraging to the other gymnasts in Cayman.”

Rutty said it was rewarding to see a new wave of gymnasts, and especially Santiago, having witnessed her talent in the gym firsthand.

In a Compass interview in September 2024, when asked if she saw any standout talent who she could pass her gymnastics torch to, Rutty said, “The first little girl that comes to mind is Sienna.”

She added: “When I was a little girl training here, she would come for toddler play dates and hang around us while we were trying to practice and do our routines. It’s been amazing and honestly inspiring to see her grow up following our footsteps.”

But Rutty sees a more successful future for Santiago.

“I think she is even more talented then I was; she is stronger, more flexible and I think her future as a gymnast is extremely bright and exciting,” she said.

Now, Santiago is hoping to carve a legacy of her own and has set a timeline for all she wants to accomplish.

Looking towards university
“I would like to represent Cayman more in international competitions,” she said, but admitted that the only way she can improve is by getting into university. “I think I need to get into college gymnastics, that’s one of my main goals.”

When asked if competing at the Olympics is part of her long-term plans, she responded: “It could be, yes, as long as I keep training in the gym. I think the Olympics might be something that I will be a part of in the future.”

To get there, she must stay true to the sport she “really enjoys doing” but one that comes with its own set of challenges.

“It’s a lot of perseverance, you have to risk it all the time. It’s not going to be easy especially when you’re young. It’s kind of hard to be like I’m going to keep trying and go for it, but you have to just stick with it and keep trying, because it takes practice to get to where you want to go.”

In 2023, Santiago saw the Cayman Islands’ first-ever men’s gymnastics team place third in Åland at the Inter Island Games.

Now, according to coach Laidler, the immediate priority is capturing a historic first medal for a Caymanian female at those games.

“I think this year will be one of the first years that we’ve had our strongest team and that is with Sienna leading the way, and being team leader,” Laidler said. “I do expect her to do pretty well.

“Our girls have never medalled but I think she gives us a pretty good chance. Down the line I can see her at the junior Pan Am; hopefully we can get in through competition. Then once you start going to those you get invited to other competitions, so Island Games is definitely a stepping stone.”