Q: Do you have a nickname?
“Ken or Kenny.”
Q: When and why did you first become interested in gymnastics?
“I became interested in gym in 2001. I liked it because it was all that I wanted to do, and I wanted to learn new things.”
Q: Do you have any good/funny memories from when you first started taking gymnastics classes?
“A good memory was when I made my first kip.”
Q: When did you decide you wanted to compete?
“I started competing in 2003.”
And, when did you want to compete on the elite level? What about competition appeals to you?
“I competed elite last year and plan on doing it again my senior year in high school. When I compete, I love to be with my teammates and meeting other new gymnasts.”
Q: What is your favorite event?
“Vault.”
Q: What is your favorite skill?
“Bail.”
Q: What music do you use for your floor routine?
“A warrior type of music.”
Q: Who is your favorite gymnast or who is your “idol”?
“My favorite gymnast is Gabby Douglas.”
Q: How have you grown as a gymnast during your career, both skill wise and mentally?
“I have realized that I need to work harder in gym or else I won’t progress in the sport.”
Q: How has gymnastics helped you as a person?
“Gymnastics brought out my crazy, silly self!”
Q: If you had to select one life-lesson that gymnastics has taught you, what would it be?
“Don’t get lazy.”
Q: What are your biggest accomplishments or best memories in your career?
“I was National beam champion last year, and I got second at Nationals.”
Q: Do you want to compete in collegiate gymnastics?
“Yes.”
Q: What are your favorite subjects in school?
“Math and Spanish.”
Q: If you plan to go to college, do you know what you want to study there?
“No, not yet.”
Q: What are your goals for the future?
“To make sure I’m a responsible adult.”
Q: When you’re not in the gym, how do you enjoy spending your time? Do you have any hobbies or favorite activities?
“I hang out with my teammates, or go shopping, or stay at home and sleep.”
Q: What is your favorite food?
“Burgers.”
Q: What is your favorite movie?
“Madea’s Big Happy Family.”
Q: Who is your favorite music group/artist?
“I like Beyonce.”
Q: Are any of your family members current or former athletes? Which sports?
“My dad. He was a basketball player at UCLA and he played overseas.”
Q: Do you have any competition rituals? Lucky charms?
“I listen to music on the way to competition.”
Q: What’s on your IPod right now? What type of music do you enjoy listening to? How about before a meet when you’re trying to get focused and pumped up?
“I listen to pop and rap.”
Q: If you had to pick 3 words to describe yourself as a gymnast, what are they?
“Hardworking, sometimes lazy, and talented.”
Q: What 3 words describe you as a person, not the gymnast?
“Funny, outgoing, kind.”
By Romy Schwaiger
It’s hard to believe, but Kennedi Edney, just 13-years-old and in 8th grade, already knows which college she wants to go to: UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles).
“My dad went to UCLA and I want to keep up the tradition,” she says.
Her father is Tyus Edney, a former NBA player, who won the NCAA Basketball Championships with UCLA in 1995. He, then, got drafted for the NBA in 1995 in the second round with the 47th overall pick by the Sacramento Kings, later playing for the Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, as well as in Europe.
And Kennedi hopes to become just as successful as her father, having become a Level 10 gymnast. “It took me a while to get to Level 10,” Kennedi said. “I didn’t work as hard when I was younger as I do now.”
She practices five hours every day, from 3 to 8 p.m., at the Precision Gymnastics Club in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. “I come out of school around 1:45 p.m. and then go right into gymnastics.”
Her goal is not only to receive a full-ride scholarship to UCLA, but she also wants to be an international competitor, just like her role model, Dominique Dawes, member of three Olympic medal-winning teams.
“I saw some videos of Dominique on YouTube,” says the 13-year-old, “And, she inspired me to work hard.”
She qualified for the Nastia Liukin Cup at the Long Beach Open in Long Beach, Calif., where she won the all-around title in the Junior A age division with a total score of 37.550 points.
When she is not in the gym, she likes to play Nintendo Wii with her little sister Kolbi-Rae, 10. “My favorite game is Just Dance 3 because I really like to dance, and I beat everyone in my family,” she says with a laugh.