In the heart of Providenciales, a quiet but powerful dream began to take shape a dream born from a mother’s love, a child’s passion, and a community’s need. On March 19th, 2019, that dream became reality with the opening of Provo Gymnastics Academy, the first gymnastics school in the Turks & Caicos Islands.
At the open house held in LaPorte’s Plaza, children ran in with wide eyes, discovering a world built just for them bars, beams, mats, and coaches who saw potential in every child. It wasn’t just a gym. It was a beginning.
Founded by Karin Hess, originally from Peru, and Patrick Vanhamme, the academy was inspired by a personal story. Karin’s daughter had fallen in love with gymnastics abroad, but when they returned home to TCI, there was no place for her to train. Instead of giving up, Karin built that place not just for her daughter, but for all children in the islands.
Provo Gymnastics is more than a training center. It is a space where confidence grows, friendships are formed, and every cartwheel carries a message: “You can do this.”
With small group classes (max 6 students), certified equipment, and internationally experienced coaches, the academy offers both recreational programs and competitive training up to level 10. But what truly sets them apart is their mission to promote healthy bodies and strong minds, and to give local youth the chance to represent Turks & Caicos on the world stage.
This is about pride, perseverance, and possibility. It’s about showing that the talent born in Providenciales belongs on international podiums.
Come visit. Come dream. Come flip, jump, laugh, and grow at Provo Gymnastics Academy, where the future of Turks & Caicos stands tall, one handstand at a time.
