(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A Chicago Olympian is looking to wrestle her way to gold. And it’s a quest that unofficially began with two rambunctious 4-year-olds, Kennedy Blades and her sister Korina, who is 10 months younger than her.
“My dad taught us boxing when we were very young. But my parents were like, we’ve just gotta put them in a sport, so that they don’t destroy each other. So they put us in jiu-jitsu because it’s a combat sport, we can get tired. We were very hyper, and both of us together… just insane,” Kennedy said.
About two years later, the grade-schoolers transitioned to wrestling. They’ve worked on mats all over the world, including schools in Pennsylvania and Arizona.
While Korina has battled injury for the last year, Kennedy is bound for France, the U.S. heavyweight champion at just 20-years-old.
“I love my country, I love representing red, white and blue and, you know, being on the stage at the highest level of my sport – but this is different. This is, like, the Olympics.”
And winning a gold medal at the Olympics has been a life-long dream.
“Ever since I was 7, I’ve been doing wrestling full time. When I was a little girl, I never really went to the birthday parties I was invited to, I never went on, like, the school trips, because I had to train or I had a tournament or something. But my goal was to win a state title that year, win nationals, stuff like that. So I knew that I had to sacrifice.”
Now she’s headed to Paris, and a party that will make all the sacrifice worth it.
“The Opening Ceremony is gonna be amazing. It’s gonna be an experience that, you know, will be unforgettable. I don’t care if I’m fangirling, because it’s like, I hope it’s not once in a lifetime, but if it is, at least I get the opportunity, so I’m just going to take it as I can.”
Kennedy spent the last few months living near Midway, training at Izzy Style Wrestling in Addison, and lifting in Evanston, where Northwestern women’s lacrosse coach Kelly Amonte Hiller has become a confidant and mentor.
“I have the speed. I have the technique. I have all this stuff. But then when your mentality gets in the way, it can really mess up the whole match. So she has helped me overcome some things.”
Regular coach Izzy Martinez will be in Paris with Kennedy. So will sister Korina. Cheering loudly as Kennedy wrestles her way through the bracket.
“It’s super nice. It’s super convenient. It makes it a whole lot easier. It’s just very nice that you always have a training partner, you have a buddy, you have a friend, you have, you know, your sister.”
And hopefully, they’ll see Kennedy realize her dream of winning a medal.
“One match at a time, just feeling good, and leaving it all on the mat. That’s the game plan.”
That hasn’t stopped Kennedy from visualizing her goal.
“I just can’t wait til when I get on the podium and the National Anthem’s playing. Like, I don’t know. I know I will not stop smiling because, the last time I heard the National Anthem was when I won worlds in 2021. So it’s like..all right, Kennedy. This is the year. Let’s do this.”
Kennedy competes in the 76 kg class, which is scheduled to compete on Aug. 10.
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