July 30, 2024 • 40 mins
Kennedy Blades had to take down a legend in Olympic wrestling to punch her ticket to her first Olympics. Growing up in combat sports, and often wrestling against boys - she was more than up for the challenge. Completing in the 76-kilogram class of Olympic wrestling, Blades talks her Olympic debut, and how she sees combining fashion and sport in her future.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
If you're listening to this podcast, we know one thing
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Hello friends, and welcome to the Powerful Podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
I'm your host Aja McCord.
Speaker 5 (00:49):
In this podcast, we introduce you to powerful women.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Who are changing the game in and outside of their
field of play.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
These are women's stories, women who happen to be doing
things that many of us can only dream of, but
the lessons and inspiration they share is universal.
Speaker 6 (01:05):
Welcome back to the Powerful Podcast. I am your Host
Adrian McCord. I am so excited because this woman has
a name that honestly, it gives off superhero. She's making
her Olympic debut this summer in Paris twenty twenty four,
but she has already made a name for herself in wrestling.
She did it at the Olympic Trials to earn her
(01:26):
spot in Paris.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
She competes in the seventy six kilogram class.
Speaker 6 (01:30):
She is going to try and become the third American
woman to win a gold medal in the Olympics. Twenty
years old, based out of Chicago, Illinois, Kennedy Blades, thank
you so much for coming on the podcast.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Hi. Yeah, thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 6 (01:44):
Absolutely, I'm so excited to have you on because as
I learn more and more about your story, there's just
so much to you and yet you kind of burst
out of the scene this April when you took down
Adeline Gray.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
She is a six time world champ, she was over medalist.
Speaker 6 (02:00):
In Tokyo and you beat her to earn your spot
on TMUSA for Paris twenty twenty four. Walk me through
for you what that feeling was like.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (02:11):
I mean, honestly, going into Olympic Trials, I was super
confident I know, I put in a lot of work
and it's always been my dream. But you know, obviously
going into trials, it's everyone's dream, but it's just you know,
only one person can make the spot. So I just
trusted my training, trusted God, and then I just let
it fly. So then once I won the whole thing,
(02:34):
I was like, I was still in a little shock
because you know, it's a it's a big deal still,
but also I had a small expectation because I just
knew that I earned it, you know. So yeah, that
feeling was just nothing but happiness and a little satisfaction.
So I was like, wow, like now I can ever
call myself an Olympian. But yeah, it was just it
(02:56):
was amazing.
Speaker 6 (02:57):
And then to finally, I mean, I guess we'll start
with your journey in wrestling, because wrestling in and of itself
is not necessarily one of those sports.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
It just bade the Olympics in what two thousand and.
Speaker 6 (03:10):
Four, right, the four So women's wrestling is very new
to the Olympics as a whole, and there's two women
who have won gold. We'll get into sort of the
shoes that you're trying to fill here, and wrestling in
just a second.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
But for you, with wrestling only making its Olympic.
Speaker 6 (03:23):
Debut in two thousand and four, twenty years old, how
did you get into this sport?
Speaker 3 (03:28):
Yeah, so I was so me and my sister, we
had a lot of energy.
Speaker 7 (03:32):
First of all, we're only ten months and fifteen days apart,
so we were very close to the age. But when
we were younger, my dad would take us to this
gym where he would train this MMA fighter for conditioning,
and me and my sister would try to mimic what
they were doing on the side, and then he asked, like,
you go as when I went boxing, So we were like, yeah,
(03:53):
like why not?
Speaker 3 (03:54):
So he taught us.
Speaker 7 (03:55):
But then my parents, Chase decided we got to put
them in like a controlled spot and it was easy
to do a combat since we also had just a
bunch of energy and they needed to like burn us out.
So they decided to play in Brazilian jiu jitsu and
we did that for I believe like two years, and
we we were very good, Like right away, we trained
(04:17):
a lot. We were beating up the boys all the time.
We would win there. I think it's a national tournament
called Naga and we would win that pretty frequently. So
it's pretty cool though because the like trophies first of
all to belt, but then the other tournament's like a
samurai swords.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
We have a bunch of those.
Speaker 7 (04:34):
But but so then there were factors to why my
parents decided to play some wrestling, but there was it
was just a pretty easy transition from Brazili jujitsu to wrestling.
And it's an Olympic sport, it's a uh it's an
it was a colored sport, so you know, there's stuff
like that. So my parents were like, okay, let's throw
(04:56):
them in a practice and we liked it. So we
did both for a year. But then they were like,
let's just have them pick one. And they told us like,
which one do you guys want to do? And we
started wrestling. So I've been wrestling so I was seven
and yeah, so I've just pretty much wrestled with most
of my life.
Speaker 6 (05:15):
Okay, so a lots of unpacking there, but I want
to start with what was it that you really enjoyed
about wrestling? Because I was also child who was put
in sports because I couldn't sit still my knees. Chose
gymnastics because I did a lot of flipping, and they
were like, okay, let's like let's control this. I don't
learn how to do it safely, right, So what was
it about? But then like at some point, right it
(05:35):
starts becoming your parents thing and it becomes your thing.
So for you, when was that moment that wrestling became
your thing?
Speaker 7 (05:43):
I think, honestly right away, I just I really loved winning,
and we would beat up all the guys, which made
it even better because there wasn't end.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
There was barely any girls.
Speaker 7 (05:57):
I would say probably the main girls I can really
think of is me and my sister, and then Mia
Palombo and Elexujaniak that were all in Illinois, So we
would just only wrestled guys the whole time, and you know,
when you be up a guy, it's just kind of nice.
So I think just that that feeling of just winning
(06:18):
and but like doing in like a dominant fashion just
really drove me to like, wow, I want to keep
doing this. I want to win this tournament, next in
this tournament. So like throughout my years, I would win
Boys Nationals and then I won Boys stay and you know,
so it really put you know, me and my sister
on the map and I think, yeah, that's just why
I loved it so much. It was just like that
(06:39):
feeling of like when you work hard, you get what
you deserve.
Speaker 6 (06:43):
Yeah, you did make some history in twenty sixteen as
the first Illinois girl to win an Illinois Kids Wrestling
Federation championship against boys. And I think any woman who
has competed against men or boys in their sport there
is this had satisfaction to it.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Why do you think that is?
Speaker 7 (07:04):
I think it's just because, especially when I was growing up,
like in practice, it was pretty hard sometimes like to
get a partner because guys would be like, oh, you know,
she's a girl, she doesn't work hard whatever, So like
you kind of have to prove to them that, like
you know, you're here for the same thing because you
want to win, Like I mean, that's why we all
(07:25):
join the sport. And so when you finally start to
gain that respect and they're like, wow, look she's really
good or like I need to watch out for her,
it's like like, yeah, like I'm here, you know, so
just making history and just you know, putting myself on
the map. It also inspired more girls to join the sport,
and I think just like being able to break those
(07:46):
sort of barriers so that there's more opportunities. It's just
super important at the end of the day. So I
think that's what like, really, you know, just set the
tone of me winning that specific championship. Because then a
few years later, Morgan Turner, who's a really good friend,
she's like my little sister, she won, so she's the
second girl ever to win boys state. And then now
(08:09):
last year they just had the first girls IKWS state championship.
Because there's so many girls in the sport. So I
was just like, wow, like this is just booming, and
you know, it's just awesome that, like it went from
all the way that word there was barely any girls,
so now there's their own state tournament.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
So I think it's just it's an amazing thing to
see happening.
Speaker 6 (08:30):
Yeah, so I wanted to talk about I'm trying to
look it up right now because I think that I
heard it in an interview that at one point in
a wrestling competition, So tell me if this is tell
me if you've also heard.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
This, and if you haven't, then we'll just cut this
part out of the podcast.
Speaker 6 (08:47):
But yeah, at one point, was it not the case
that at one of the wrestling competitions, women were not
given prize money. They were given household good. Item was
like that and toast.
Speaker 7 (09:03):
That before, which is insane, right, Like I remember hearing
that before, but I honestly didn't believe it because I
was like, there's no way that's a thing.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Like there's no way.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
There's no but like it's so you've heard it.
Speaker 6 (09:17):
I've heard it. I cannot find the article right now,
but I will. I will put it in the notes
of this of this episode if we find that. Yeah,
that that's absolutely it was like the year was in
the nineties, right, This is like in the fifties or
like whatever. This was like nineties, early two thousands. So
as someone who's grown up in the sport and competed
against the men and are about to compete for an
(09:37):
Olympic gold medal, now, how have you seen this sport
grow for women in the game?
Speaker 7 (09:44):
Yeah, I think it's just it's amazing, honestly, Like I said, like,
there was no girls ever wrestling, So I was very
fortunate to have my sister by my side throughout the
whole ride. But it's just every single time I going
to a tournament, a girls tournament is insane for me
to see like, you know, little girls wrestling and all
(10:06):
these cute little things like pink and purple shoes and
like bows in their hand and stuff, and I'm like,
oh my gosh, like this is so cool, and it
almost makes it It makes it more fun, you know,
when you have you know, girls wrestling each other.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
And just all trying to win.
Speaker 7 (10:21):
But then at the end of the day you see
them like smiling together on the podium because you know,
everyone worked hard to get where they are.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
So I think especially going from it.
Speaker 7 (10:32):
Being because it's crazy because if you think about it,
wrestling is the oldest Olympic sport, but girls wrestling is
very very new, and it's only I mean, I was
born to thousand three, so only you know, you're acting
I was born, which is still fairly new. So just
seeing that, like you know, the generation before me like
(10:53):
really broke those barriers to try to push these opportunities
for my generation now to where now we're trying to
push the exies for the next generation. And so it's
an amazing to see how much of a ripple effect
it's you know, it's happening throughout the years and so
I can't imagine like in another generation or two generations,
(11:14):
it's going to be like, hopefully we're really recognized because
we I feel like we all put in the same
hard work, make the same sacrifices. It's just a matter
of time where people can really see like, oh wow,
women's wrestling is it's booming right now, Like let me
watch this, So yeah, it's it's really cool.
Speaker 6 (11:33):
So I want to talk about the dynamic between you
and your sister, because that is something that is so
special to have grown up in a man's sport but with.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
A sister by her side.
Speaker 6 (11:43):
So first tell us her name, a little bit about her,
and then how did that relationship, that friendship with your
sister really push you to become the wrestler you are today.
Speaker 7 (11:53):
Yeah, my sister, her name is Karna Blades, and she
has won multiple national titles. She's won Fargo, She's been
on multiple world teams. We were finally on a world
team together, a junior World and that's the year I
want it. And then she took bronze, so it was
really cool to bring back world medals to our.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
Parents and the family.
Speaker 7 (12:15):
She recently got surgery, so that's why she wasn't at
the Olympic trials this year, but twenty twenty eight, we're
praying that we both can make that team because I'm
not sure if it's really been done with sisters for
Team USA. So that's gonna be really cool, like that'll
be more history. But yeah, she's just been by my side,
like I said, pretty much my whole life. And it's
(12:38):
great to just have someone to even drill with, you know,
when you go home to practice, you know that certain
move that you didn't get, or when you're cutting weight,
like you're both cutting way together, or you guys both
have to diet together, so it makes it easier when
you have someone by your side or like you have
a team behind you. And so she's been really supportive with,
(12:58):
you know, this whole process in my Olympic journey, because it.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Can get pretty hectic sometimes with like media and like
expectations and all this stuff.
Speaker 7 (13:06):
But like when you have someone like your sister who
can really just medow you down and remind you that
like everything's okay and you're still young and it's just
all opportunities that are just you know, coming your way,
so it's nothing it should be nothing but fun it's
just it's it really makes me happy. So our dynamic
is very strong, and you know, people call us the
(13:28):
Blade Sisters, and it's just it's really cool because Rudis
also uses that signature name to like really promote us
as very you know, strong, independent duo, and I think
that's just super important to showcase that in the world.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
So it's awesome.
Speaker 6 (13:45):
It is so cool to see two sisters who have
had each other's back from the beginning going out there
beating the boys, earning your spot onto USA La eight. Yeah,
absolutely manifesting that you too, it's gonna be the Blade Sisters.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Meantime, you have to carry that to yourself.
Speaker 6 (14:02):
Yeah, in Paris, and you are going to try and
be the third American woman to win a gold fourteen
USA in wrestling. So the first one was Helen Mauruz, right,
she did it in twenty sixteen, and then Tamra Menza
won it in twenty twenty, which made her the first
black woman to win a wrestling gold. What does it
mean to you to carry on that legacy for women
(14:24):
for black women this year in Paris.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
Yeah, I think it's just.
Speaker 7 (14:29):
It's gonna be an incredible moment for sure, and h
I don't remember the last time, or maybe I'm just
but you know, after Latina being on the team, especially
bringing home a medal because I have black and half Latina,
so just having those two backgrounds and you know, representing
the US on that big stage, I think it's just
(14:51):
going to be amazing. And like I said, you know,
seeing all these girls when I go into these events,
some girls that live that look like me, I'm pretty
sure that a latinas they come to me and they
tell me, oh my gosh, you look like me. Good luck,
this is amazing, like you're representing us, and it just
makes my heart warm because when I was younger, I
didn't really have people like that to look up to.
(15:12):
So it's just nice to be a role model to
this generation and to all in general. And at the
end of the day, you know, I have a lot
of different parts that I can represent, because at the
end of the day, I just want to represent everyone,
whether you know, young, old, new to the spot you've
been in for years like me, it's just you know,
(15:33):
you can achieve your dreams no matter what, as long
as you set your mind to it. So it's really
cool that I can represent these young girls because I'm
only twenty, because a lot of these girls, like they're
even high schools. I'm like only like three years older
than he. Like, it's cool that we can you know,
connect and see like, you know, we understand each other.
And then again with like after Latina background, and then
(15:54):
Chicago and then you know, America being born here, and
then my parents, you know. So it's just it's really
cool to be a representation of so many different parts,
but we all, you know, come together as one team,
you say at the end of the day. So yeah,
it's just really cool. And like, I really do want
(16:15):
to bring home a gold medal for America and you know,
for my family and for all the backgrounds, and for
my team and for my coaches, and because it really
does show that not only did I put in the work,
but the team behind me helped me as well. So
this is going to be an exciting experience. And I
pray that I run with the flag, you know, and
(16:37):
the last name.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
So that's gonna be so cool.
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Speaker 6 (17:25):
Now, the other aspect of you describe so many of
the communities that you're bringing to Paris with you. One
of the other ones is the tall girlies. You're coming
in here as one of the tallest wrestlers.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Who is gonna be onto how tall are you?
Speaker 6 (17:39):
And explain to people who may not understand sort of
how your height is out of.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
The norm And yeah, female wrestlers.
Speaker 7 (17:47):
So I'm five eleven, probably a little over five on
like one fourth, but we'll just say five eleven. But
I am.
Speaker 3 (17:55):
Definitely probably the tallest girl in my bracket.
Speaker 7 (17:58):
Usually the girls are not five eight, just because girls
in general are, you know, like five five, five six.
But it's so it's it's gonna be it's gonna be great.
I use my lane to my advantage so much when
I wrestle. I think that's like one of my best
(18:18):
aspects of.
Speaker 3 (18:19):
Me too, is just because I could step over that
leg or my reaches is way past theirs.
Speaker 7 (18:24):
And so, yeah, I saw on YouTube someone made a
video said the tallest girl wrestler in the world. That
was that was just so funny or no, the tallest
girls whatever. Yeah, like someone made a video like this
that was so funny because I probably do look super
long on TV. But yeah, I am pretty tall, and honestly,
(18:46):
hopefully after wrestling, I did ever since I.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Was a little girl. I want to be a runway model.
So we'll see where that will take me after wrestling.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
I love that. I cannot wait. That is such fun
post athletic career dream.
Speaker 6 (19:02):
And yeah, so many women, especially female athletes, who find
their next passion after after their their sport, right, and.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
I can see it for you.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Yeah, I think.
Speaker 8 (19:12):
You're walking in heels. You're walking heels. Okay, I'm not
a flat girl. I love heels, and people are like,
you're so tough, and I'm like, it just makes sense
with the office, you know, it really isn't.
Speaker 6 (19:24):
I will wear the sneakers for you, you can wear the
heels for me, which you know, maybe it should be opposite,
like I should be wanting to make myself taller, but
I can't walk in heels. I'm a Jay's Girls girl.
But I have so much respect for the women who
can walk in heels because I feel like.
Speaker 1 (19:40):
I'm a breaking ankle.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
That's funny.
Speaker 6 (19:45):
How did you get in touch with sort of the
fashion side of your of your personality?
Speaker 1 (19:49):
Like how did that ask you?
Speaker 7 (19:51):
Well, my mom she used to watch America's Next Half
Model all the time. So I would just, you know,
a little girl, just sit there and just watch what
she's watching while she's like robb my back or whatever.
But then I was like, wow, they they're very tall,
like just like me, very tall, lean, and I was like,
that's that's pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
So then sometimes she would be going at work.
Speaker 7 (20:10):
I don't I don't know if she still knows this,
but I would go in a closet and I would
just pretend I'm like on the runway and her heels
and it was just fun and you know, because you
kind of have to walk a certain way to like
represent the clothes, and I just thought like, oh, this
is so cute.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
And then as I got older, you know, I would
I would always be.
Speaker 7 (20:28):
The tallest girl, and I at one point I just
did not like my height.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
I just just didn't like it. I was kind of embarrassed.
Speaker 7 (20:36):
I always have to be in the back of the
in the pictures and just everyone would, you know, So I.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
Was just like man.
Speaker 7 (20:42):
But then every time someone would say are you a
model or oh my gosh, you should be a model
one day, I would take that huge confidence. I'm like, wow,
like maybe I can be one. So then that's when
I started getting confidence. And I was like, you know what,
tall girls rock, you know, like like at the end
of the day, like not sometimes like the normal like
(21:02):
things that are normal. When you're not normal, it makes it,
you know, like you stand out a little bit. So
that's why I just try to switch my mind when
I was younger, and it made me more confident being tall.
So so then yeah, and I was like, hopefully maybe
after wrestling, because I want to do everything like that.
I had my mindset to do since I was younger.
I want to achieve that before you know, I get
(21:25):
too old, like sixty, you know, so gold medal, hopefully
runway model, have a beautiful family, get get into like
the whole business side of the world. So I'm very
into business, so you know, stuff like that, and I
just have these small goals. But time will tell, you
know when it's time. So there's no way I can
do it right now because I'm so focused on this,
(21:47):
you know, wrestling journey first. But then afterwards, yeah, yeah,
of course, so then yeah, afterwards, maybe.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
It's time to like move on, so we'll see.
Speaker 6 (21:57):
I love that and Kennedy, it is so cool because
you touch on something. You're only twenty years old, right,
and you touch on something yet that is so it's
so pivotal for so many of our childhoods and our youths, right,
is like there's something.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
About particular I'm sure. I'm sure men experiences too.
Speaker 6 (22:15):
I grew up a teenage girl and a woman, so
I can only speak to that experience.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
But I feel like so many of us grew up
with some.
Speaker 6 (22:23):
Sort of insecurity, right, and whether that is society driven
or internal or family like whatever that is. We all
grew up with some sort of insecurity, and the moment
that we can figure out like Okay, yes this makes
me different and that actually is my superpower becomes one
of those moments that you look back on and you're like, whoa,
(22:47):
this is when my life had purpose, right, Like, this
is when I figured out that this is what I
want to do and this is the impact that I
want to make on this life.
Speaker 1 (22:56):
And you figure that out before you're even twenty years old.
I mean, what was that.
Speaker 6 (23:01):
Obviously you did wrestling, which in of itself is a
unique sport. We talked about how it just made its
Olympic debut twenty years ago, so it's relatively new for
limited compete wrestling. And then you're embracing this assac to
yourself that was a point of insecurity and being tall,
and now we're saying, no, this is actually something I
can be around the friendly model, right, Like, how did
you how did you figure that out? What was the
(23:24):
support system behind you and the internal dialogues that you
had that you were able to overcome those things?
Speaker 7 (23:32):
Yeah, that's a very good question, I think, just you know,
kind of reflecting on what like, oh sorry, kind of
reflecting on maybe the goals that I want at the
end of the day. I think just you know, like, yeah, this,
(23:52):
this whole wrestling journey is amazing. It's shampion the person
I am today. But I'm not just only a wrestler,
you know. I love I love doing social media, I
love reading, I like make going out to get matcha,
doing my nail stuff like that.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
So I think, just like reflecting on.
Speaker 7 (24:09):
The fact that you don't have when I like, one
thing doesn't identify you one hundred percent, you know, and
whatever you want to do in life, as long as
you work hard, those things will come, you know, and
especially if you trust Christ and allow him to guide
your life, then everything will be okay.
Speaker 3 (24:28):
So yeah, just me realizing that there's more. I'm more
than just a wrestler. You know. I'm more than just
a girl likes fashion.
Speaker 7 (24:36):
I'm more than just you know, certain things like I
can be all these things and you know, be the
person that I still am.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
So I think, just yeah, realizing that there's.
Speaker 7 (24:47):
More to life than just the only thing that some
people think you identify as.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
And I learned that when.
Speaker 7 (24:54):
I was younger, probably around maybe twelve thirteen years old
when I, you know, I my parents will let me
get Instagram. When I was so you know, I was like,
oh my gosh, you know, what is the internet whatever?
So then I would see these fashion accounts and stuff,
and I was like, wow, this is so cool. Like
I love the whole Vogue cover. I love how they
(25:16):
you know, I love how fashion is depicted as far
as you know, how people on the runway walk and show.
You know, it's not just clothes, It's like, you know,
it's a whole style, it's a whole look. So I
think just like seeing these certain videos and then just
reading up on stuff and you know, allowing my mind
to not only be wrestling related, because personally, I can't
(25:37):
just think about wrestling twenty four to seven.
Speaker 3 (25:40):
I'll go crazy because I do.
Speaker 7 (25:42):
I wrestle so much and that's such a big part
of my life when it comes to strain training, dieting,
training in the wrestling room in general. You know, stuff
like that, interviews, all this stuff that when I'm able
to like derail.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
From wrestling, I really take the time to like, Okay,
what else do I want to do? Do I want
to read a book? Do I want to go get
my nails done. I want to go take pictures stuff
like that.
Speaker 7 (26:03):
So just like finding the things that you love and
that you're passionate and just make sure that you really
take time to yourself when life gets pretty crazy. And
I'm very grateful for learning that at such a young age,
because when you get to a certain level, like how
I am at the Olympic level, now, I.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
Need to still be sane.
Speaker 7 (26:23):
Like if I just allowed wrestling to take over everything,
then I would, you know, I would probably get burnt
out early, you know, and I'm pretty young. I could
still do another cycle or twenty thirty two stuff like that.
So if you just you know, allow yourself to not
get burnt out with stuff that you have fun with,
then you know, life becomes amazing.
Speaker 6 (26:46):
So yeah, well it's so cool to hear you talk
about because my story was I did get burnt out,
like I was a gymnast. Was that was my whole
identity for the vast majority of like you know, from
like seven to sixteen or whatever.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
It was like that was.
Speaker 6 (27:02):
I did other things in there because my parents were
great about making sure that I had other interests like piano,
and I had to do some softball, like I had
to do some other things, but for me internally, gymnastics
was the end all be all, that was where I
wanted to be. I wanted to be in the gym
and then I got so burnt out when I was
like midway through high school and it was this massive
(27:24):
moment where it wasn't just that I was sort of
walking away from the sport, but.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
It was like, what do I do now, yeah.
Speaker 6 (27:31):
Outside of outside of being a gymnast. And it's such
a crazy it's such a crazy question because it's one
that you have to answer, right, but like in the moment,
you feel so ill equipped to answer it because you're like, no,
I've only ever been a gymnast, But what you're saying
is like, that's not true. I always had other interests.
(27:52):
I always enjoyed surfing, I always enjoyed hiking. I always
enjoyed telling stories. And like, now here I am right,
like this is the majority of my personality is telling stories.
But it wasn't an easy journey to get there. And
so I think that that reminder that you said of
just like remember the other things that you turn to
is so important when having these sort of critical mass,
(28:15):
these like massive moments where you say, Okay, this massive
part of my personality, the whole thing.
Speaker 1 (28:21):
What next?
Speaker 3 (28:23):
Yeah, I definitely think that's super important.
Speaker 7 (28:25):
And even like I also like even so like for school,
for my parents are really honest with school, and I
wanted to make sure I did a major that to
where I can like pursue that after wrestling, because what
if one day I get hurt and I can't come back,
you know, at least I have something to fall back
on once I get my degree. So yeah, just like
(28:46):
you said, like having something to just turn back to,
you know, even when because you don't want to always
leave the question like what do I do now? So
I think, yeah, if anyone's listening, I would definitely consider
finding other hobbies outside of your main ones that you
can always enjoy life like regardless of what happened.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
Yeah, we are multi dimensional exactly.
Speaker 6 (29:06):
We can love the sports, we can love fashion, we
can love being outside, we can love fonte, we can
love all the things. So I like that We're going
to lean into that today. So I do want to
ask you, because we have an expert on the show here,
I want to ask you for those of us who
are going to be tuning into wrestling and paying attention to.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
Your story, your journey in Paris.
Speaker 6 (29:27):
Give us some like signature moves or things we should
watch out for that we say, oh, Kennedy Blades just
did this, Like, what is this? What is the signature
move that Kennedy Blades has developed in her tall, girly
embracing all of it.
Speaker 7 (29:46):
I think you guys will probably definitely see a blast
double for me because I'm so I just love shooting
and sometimes.
Speaker 6 (29:54):
Wait, you just said blast double and shooting. I thought
we were talking about wrestling, So walk me through. What
is a blast double?
Speaker 3 (30:04):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (30:05):
And why do we call it shooting?
Speaker 3 (30:06):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (30:07):
So basically, when you're offensive and you get to the legs,
like you take a shot, that's called shooting.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
And so I'm yes, okay, yes.
Speaker 7 (30:18):
So you want to take the person down for two points,
and so I'm so explosive with my shots. Sometimes I
fly in the air and I make the other pone
of fly in the air, so I get four points
and and yeah, so you guys will probably see some
end it's called a blast double when you got both
legs but you shoot through them so hard. You guys
(30:39):
both are basically in the air and then they fall
on their back like really hard.
Speaker 6 (30:43):
Yeah, okay, so a blast double is what we can
expect to see.
Speaker 7 (30:49):
And then I'm gonna try to uh, I'm gonna try
to wear pink shoes. Rudishes came out with this really
bright pink shoes because Okay, my favorite colors rose gold,
but its second favorite place off pink. Some a big
pink early like everywhere. But yeah, so you guys are
probably seeing with pink wrestling shoes. Definitely, my nails done
(31:11):
like it's just needs to be, and then I'm gonna
get more blonde in my hair.
Speaker 3 (31:16):
So yeah, basically we're gonna turn the mat. We're gonna
turn the Yes for sure, I love it. Okay.
Speaker 6 (31:27):
And then the last basic wrestling question is you mentioned
the scoring of points, So can you break down the
scoring system for us in as basic terms as you can?
Speaker 7 (31:36):
Yeah, So, basically, like I said earlier, one shot, which
is when you shoot to get to legs and they
hit the floor and on top of them, that's two points.
Sometimes you can defend the shot so you get behind
them and that's two points. Now you have they have
they have to be on the ground for it to
be two points. Anything from feet to back, like a blast,
(31:58):
double hip hop since like a judo throw kind of
those are four points. And then I'm gonna try to
hit a suplex, which is basically you go from you
hold them from the back, and then you literally arch
your back and you suit them on their head and
that's five points. So that's pretty And then if you
(32:19):
step out of the circle, because you'll see on the
map there's a giant circle and you step out at
one point.
Speaker 3 (32:24):
So yeah, okay, that's pretty much the gist of wrestling.
I love it.
Speaker 6 (32:29):
So what I'm my goal before this podcast comes out
is I am going to get either some practice videos
from you or some stick drawings to explain what each
of these moves are through wrestling exactly as we watch
you do the double blast and.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
Yeah, there you go. That's perfect amazing.
Speaker 6 (32:51):
Okay, So Kennedy, we're going to transition now to our
something to sit on segment. And so this is in
partnership with this spot, SPRA, which is a women's sports
bar in Portland, Oregon. So the week of your episode,
they're gonna come out with a signature mocktail for you.
What is your go to drink after a wrestling competition
(33:13):
when you're on that beach someday.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
What do you what are you reaching for?
Speaker 7 (33:16):
Yeah? I like to go for a nice cold Shirley Temple.
I know it's pretty basic, but it's always safe. And
I like to add like three extra strawberries or not strawberry, sorry,
three extra cherries because cherries are just amazing.
Speaker 3 (33:33):
So how can you not learn more? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (33:36):
I love it?
Speaker 6 (33:38):
Okay, perfect, all right, So Shirley Temples, I'm with you.
I like I like having a go to one that
you know everybody's gonna have. You know they're not gonna
mess it up. Like yeah, Shirley Temple, lock it in.
Speaker 1 (33:49):
Okay.
Speaker 6 (33:49):
Next up we're going to go into our powered up question.
So this is rapid fire wance. It answers as quickly
as you possibly can't okay, okay, okay. And also for
the record, this has never gone quickly. We always get
sign tracked. It always conversation, so don't have any pressure
to actually go quickly, but I like to set the expectations.
Speaker 3 (34:09):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (34:10):
First one, pop your tea a tea okay, favorite ice
cream flavor.
Speaker 3 (34:16):
Ben and Jerry is a tonight dough man, that's so good.
Speaker 6 (34:20):
Girl is my favorite at Oh my gosh, this episode
is not brought to you by the but if you
want it to be, let me know.
Speaker 1 (34:30):
Okay, go to meal either before or after wrestling.
Speaker 7 (34:35):
Before wrestling always had to get the Shampo Fredo for
protein and carbs.
Speaker 3 (34:40):
After wrestling, a nice steak. Okay, yeah, I love that.
Speaker 1 (34:45):
That reminds me. In gymnastics, we always went to olive gardens.
Speaker 6 (34:48):
Yeah, yeah, exactly, I think they were everywhere.
Speaker 3 (34:54):
Yeah exactly.
Speaker 7 (34:56):
Actually I'm gonna get one. I'm gonna actually order that right.
Actually this podcast because we have not swell so it's perfect,
so we gotta go.
Speaker 1 (35:05):
Okay, I love it.
Speaker 6 (35:07):
Okay, are you an early bird or a night all?
Speaker 7 (35:13):
With night All was like you go to bed let
right or yeah, yeah, I'm definitely a night It's bad.
Speaker 3 (35:18):
Well, so love Okay.
Speaker 6 (35:25):
Favorite place that your sport has taken you.
Speaker 1 (35:29):
You can't say Paris if you want to.
Speaker 7 (35:34):
Honestly though I was technically I didn't rush with my
sister of Cadet world is Budapest hungry so beautiful?
Speaker 3 (35:43):
M hmm.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
I love that.
Speaker 6 (35:44):
If you were not a wrestler, what sport would you
want to be an Olympia in definitely volleyball. Okay.
Speaker 7 (35:53):
I played volleyball in middle school, so I was outside
and then my sister was cetter and we were killing it.
Speaker 1 (35:59):
But oh I bet Okay, So what about a beach
volleyball duo with the blades.
Speaker 3 (36:05):
That would be good. That's a good thought.
Speaker 6 (36:09):
I'm not.
Speaker 1 (36:11):
Yeah, duel sport.
Speaker 3 (36:15):
Oh wow, that's that's crazy.
Speaker 6 (36:18):
We're throwing it out there. We're throwing it out there.
We'll just see what happens if anybody could do it.
I fully believe in the Blade sisters. For the record,
what is your favorite dessert?
Speaker 3 (36:29):
Maybe I like a good brownie. Actually, brookies are so good.
Speaker 1 (36:36):
Yeah, the brownie cookie combo yep.
Speaker 3 (36:38):
And a little good great yep. Yes, little gooey yeah, yeah,
for sure, it's.
Speaker 1 (36:43):
Gotta be gooey. What is your dream vacation spot.
Speaker 7 (36:49):
I think, honestly, just because iconic Bora, because like, why not,
this will go you know, I love it.
Speaker 1 (36:59):
I love it any beach anywhere I'm in.
Speaker 3 (37:02):
Okay.
Speaker 6 (37:02):
What is the one thing that your parents taught you
that has stuck with you?
Speaker 3 (37:09):
That's good?
Speaker 7 (37:10):
I think right when I was when I right when
I started to get a study income invest in roth
Berry right away.
Speaker 3 (37:18):
That I think is important. Yes, so yeah, m hm.
Speaker 1 (37:23):
Yes, I love that. So important and not taught to
us enough.
Speaker 3 (37:28):
Actually, yep, I agree.
Speaker 6 (37:30):
Okay, what is the you said your your sister had
an injury when she was coming into trials. What is
the wildest It doesn't have to mean injury, but like
the wildest mishap that has ever happened for you in wrestling.
Speaker 3 (37:42):
It could be oh, yeah, I know you. Yeah, I
had food.
Speaker 7 (37:48):
So last year I was at Junior World and we
got food poisoning. But I still wrestled because I was like,
there's no way, I've traveled all the way to Jordan,
who was in Middle East.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
So Jordan and I brought I brought home a bronze medal.
I didn't win, but I was like, at least say
I have a medal.
Speaker 7 (38:04):
But yeah, I was about like I was like six kilos.
Andrea was crazy, but I brought a metal.
Speaker 6 (38:12):
Oh my godness, so food poisoning but she still manages
to bring home a medal.
Speaker 3 (38:18):
Yeah, thank god. It was literally him.
Speaker 6 (38:21):
Oh my gosh, what is the most weight you've ever
had to cut before competition?
Speaker 7 (38:25):
Twenty twenty one Olympic Trials. Sixteen pounds in three weeks.
I did it though, like I felt good.
Speaker 3 (38:33):
I don't know how I did. We just did it
very smart. And yeah, sixteen pounds and three weights.
Speaker 1 (38:38):
She girl, Yeah okay.
Speaker 6 (38:41):
And then last question is wrestling has a lot of
different weight divisions and discipline. So can you tell me
what is your weight division and your weight class in division?
Speaker 7 (38:53):
My weight class is seventy six kilos, but I'm always light,
so my like, I really need to focus on eating
more actually, so it's kind.
Speaker 3 (39:03):
Of a nice.
Speaker 7 (39:04):
It's nice because I can eat before wims. Yeah, exactly.
But also I'm not gonna like gaining weight. It's hard,
Like it's not easy. Some people think it is, but
like when you have to force yourself to eat, it's
it's definitely difficult.
Speaker 3 (39:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (39:22):
And then is there are there different divisions in terms
of like freestyle.
Speaker 7 (39:28):
Oh yeah, so there's there's men's freestyle and men's greco
and then there's only women's freestyle. Okay, and each division
has six weight classes. So I'm the heaviest weight perfect okay.
Speaker 1 (39:40):
And then this is the last question is podcast.
Speaker 6 (39:43):
This media platform is called The Powerful and we're all
about highlighting powerful women when they feel their most powerful.
So when do you, Kennedy Blaze, feel the most powerful?
Speaker 7 (39:55):
I feel maybe this is a little you know, but
I feel most powerfu when I get my hand raised,
because I just want, you know, so I think that's
when I'm like, wow, I feel like I'm on top
of the world right now.
Speaker 3 (40:08):
Yeah, I would say that time, it's a pretty good time.
Speaker 6 (40:11):
I hope that that hand gets raised in Paris. What
are the dates of your competition in Paris?
Speaker 7 (40:16):
August tenth and eleventh, and then eleventh that night is
closing ceremony, So I'm literally the last day of the
Olympic Games.
Speaker 3 (40:24):
Last.
Speaker 1 (40:25):
It's crazy strong.
Speaker 3 (40:26):
Yep, yeah, strong, gat We love.
Speaker 1 (40:29):
To see it. Kennedy, thank you so much for being
on The Powerful Podcast.
Speaker 6 (40:33):
It was such a joy to get to know you,
your family, your story a little bit better.
Speaker 1 (40:37):
Cannot wait to root you on in Paris and beyond.
Speaker 3 (40:40):
Yeah, thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1 (40:42):
All right, we'll see you next week on the Powerful Podcast.
Thanks for being with us.
Speaker 6 (40:45):
This is a reminder to check us out every Tuesday
all summer long, everywhere you get your podcasts. And if
you really enjoy this and don't want to miss an episode,
be sure to hit that subscribe itton
If you're listening to this podcast, we know one thing
for absolute certain you are a fan of women's sports.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
And there's nothing better than enjoying women's sports with community,
and no better place to find that community than the
Sports Bra in Portland, Oregon, the very first women's sports.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
Bar in the world.
Speaker 4 (00:18):
The owner Jenny Wynn and her team have created the
best atmosphere combined with top tier menu and cocktail options
to root on your favorite team. So next time you're
in Portland, be sure to stop by the sports Bra,
and don't forget All summer, the sports Bra will be
featuring drinks picked out by our powerful women.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
So stop by, have a sip, and enjoy the summer.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
Sports season jam packed with women's sports at the Sports Bra.
Hello friends, and welcome to the Powerful Podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
I'm your host Aja McCord.
Speaker 5 (00:49):
In this podcast, we introduce you to powerful women.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Who are changing the game in and outside of their
field of play.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
These are women's stories, women who happen to be doing
things that many of us can only dream of, but
the lessons and inspiration they share is universal.
Speaker 6 (01:05):
Welcome back to the Powerful Podcast. I am your Host
Adrian McCord. I am so excited because this woman has
a name that honestly, it gives off superhero. She's making
her Olympic debut this summer in Paris twenty twenty four,
but she has already made a name for herself in wrestling.
She did it at the Olympic Trials to earn her
(01:26):
spot in Paris.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
She competes in the seventy six kilogram class.
Speaker 6 (01:30):
She is going to try and become the third American
woman to win a gold medal in the Olympics. Twenty
years old, based out of Chicago, Illinois, Kennedy Blades, thank
you so much for coming on the podcast.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Hi. Yeah, thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 6 (01:44):
Absolutely, I'm so excited to have you on because as
I learn more and more about your story, there's just
so much to you and yet you kind of burst
out of the scene this April when you took down
Adeline Gray.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
She is a six time world champ, she was over medalist.
Speaker 6 (02:00):
In Tokyo and you beat her to earn your spot
on TMUSA for Paris twenty twenty four. Walk me through
for you what that feeling was like.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (02:11):
I mean, honestly, going into Olympic Trials, I was super
confident I know, I put in a lot of work
and it's always been my dream. But you know, obviously
going into trials, it's everyone's dream, but it's just you know,
only one person can make the spot. So I just
trusted my training, trusted God, and then I just let
it fly. So then once I won the whole thing,
(02:34):
I was like, I was still in a little shock
because you know, it's a it's a big deal still,
but also I had a small expectation because I just
knew that I earned it, you know. So yeah, that
feeling was just nothing but happiness and a little satisfaction.
So I was like, wow, like now I can ever
call myself an Olympian. But yeah, it was just it
(02:56):
was amazing.
Speaker 6 (02:57):
And then to finally, I mean, I guess we'll start
with your journey in wrestling, because wrestling in and of itself
is not necessarily one of those sports.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
It just bade the Olympics in what two thousand and.
Speaker 6 (03:10):
Four, right, the four So women's wrestling is very new
to the Olympics as a whole, and there's two women
who have won gold. We'll get into sort of the
shoes that you're trying to fill here, and wrestling in
just a second.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
But for you, with wrestling only making its Olympic.
Speaker 6 (03:23):
Debut in two thousand and four, twenty years old, how
did you get into this sport?
Speaker 3 (03:28):
Yeah, so I was so me and my sister, we
had a lot of energy.
Speaker 7 (03:32):
First of all, we're only ten months and fifteen days apart,
so we were very close to the age. But when
we were younger, my dad would take us to this
gym where he would train this MMA fighter for conditioning,
and me and my sister would try to mimic what
they were doing on the side, and then he asked, like,
you go as when I went boxing, So we were like, yeah,
(03:53):
like why not?
Speaker 3 (03:54):
So he taught us.
Speaker 7 (03:55):
But then my parents, Chase decided we got to put
them in like a controlled spot and it was easy
to do a combat since we also had just a
bunch of energy and they needed to like burn us out.
So they decided to play in Brazilian jiu jitsu and
we did that for I believe like two years, and
we we were very good, Like right away, we trained
(04:17):
a lot. We were beating up the boys all the time.
We would win there. I think it's a national tournament
called Naga and we would win that pretty frequently. So
it's pretty cool though because the like trophies first of
all to belt, but then the other tournament's like a
samurai swords.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
We have a bunch of those.
Speaker 7 (04:34):
But but so then there were factors to why my
parents decided to play some wrestling, but there was it
was just a pretty easy transition from Brazili jujitsu to wrestling.
And it's an Olympic sport, it's a uh it's an
it was a colored sport, so you know, there's stuff
like that. So my parents were like, okay, let's throw
(04:56):
them in a practice and we liked it. So we
did both for a year. But then they were like,
let's just have them pick one. And they told us like,
which one do you guys want to do? And we
started wrestling. So I've been wrestling so I was seven
and yeah, so I've just pretty much wrestled with most
of my life.
Speaker 6 (05:15):
Okay, so a lots of unpacking there, but I want
to start with what was it that you really enjoyed
about wrestling? Because I was also child who was put
in sports because I couldn't sit still my knees. Chose
gymnastics because I did a lot of flipping, and they
were like, okay, let's like let's control this. I don't
learn how to do it safely, right, So what was
it about? But then like at some point, right it
(05:35):
starts becoming your parents thing and it becomes your thing.
So for you, when was that moment that wrestling became
your thing?
Speaker 7 (05:43):
I think, honestly right away, I just I really loved winning,
and we would beat up all the guys, which made
it even better because there wasn't end.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
There was barely any girls.
Speaker 7 (05:57):
I would say probably the main girls I can really
think of is me and my sister, and then Mia
Palombo and Elexujaniak that were all in Illinois, So we
would just only wrestled guys the whole time, and you know,
when you be up a guy, it's just kind of nice.
So I think just that that feeling of just winning
(06:18):
and but like doing in like a dominant fashion just
really drove me to like, wow, I want to keep
doing this. I want to win this tournament, next in
this tournament. So like throughout my years, I would win
Boys Nationals and then I won Boys stay and you know,
so it really put you know, me and my sister
on the map and I think, yeah, that's just why
I loved it so much. It was just like that
(06:39):
feeling of like when you work hard, you get what
you deserve.
Speaker 6 (06:43):
Yeah, you did make some history in twenty sixteen as
the first Illinois girl to win an Illinois Kids Wrestling
Federation championship against boys. And I think any woman who
has competed against men or boys in their sport there
is this had satisfaction to it.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Why do you think that is?
Speaker 7 (07:04):
I think it's just because, especially when I was growing up,
like in practice, it was pretty hard sometimes like to
get a partner because guys would be like, oh, you know,
she's a girl, she doesn't work hard whatever, So like
you kind of have to prove to them that, like
you know, you're here for the same thing because you
want to win, Like I mean, that's why we all
(07:25):
join the sport. And so when you finally start to
gain that respect and they're like, wow, look she's really
good or like I need to watch out for her,
it's like like, yeah, like I'm here, you know, so
just making history and just you know, putting myself on
the map. It also inspired more girls to join the sport,
and I think just like being able to break those
(07:46):
sort of barriers so that there's more opportunities. It's just
super important at the end of the day. So I
think that's what like, really, you know, just set the
tone of me winning that specific championship. Because then a
few years later, Morgan Turner, who's a really good friend,
she's like my little sister, she won, so she's the
second girl ever to win boys state. And then now
(08:09):
last year they just had the first girls IKWS state championship.
Because there's so many girls in the sport. So I
was just like, wow, like this is just booming, and
you know, it's just awesome that, like it went from
all the way that word there was barely any girls,
so now there's their own state tournament.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
So I think it's just it's an amazing thing to
see happening.
Speaker 6 (08:30):
Yeah, so I wanted to talk about I'm trying to
look it up right now because I think that I
heard it in an interview that at one point in
a wrestling competition, So tell me if this is tell
me if you've also heard.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
This, and if you haven't, then we'll just cut this
part out of the podcast.
Speaker 6 (08:47):
But yeah, at one point, was it not the case
that at one of the wrestling competitions, women were not
given prize money. They were given household good. Item was
like that and toast.
Speaker 7 (09:03):
That before, which is insane, right, Like I remember hearing
that before, but I honestly didn't believe it because I
was like, there's no way that's a thing.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Like there's no way.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
There's no but like it's so you've heard it.
Speaker 6 (09:17):
I've heard it. I cannot find the article right now,
but I will. I will put it in the notes
of this of this episode if we find that. Yeah,
that that's absolutely it was like the year was in
the nineties, right, This is like in the fifties or
like whatever. This was like nineties, early two thousands. So
as someone who's grown up in the sport and competed
against the men and are about to compete for an
(09:37):
Olympic gold medal, now, how have you seen this sport
grow for women in the game?
Speaker 7 (09:44):
Yeah, I think it's just it's amazing, honestly, Like I said, like,
there was no girls ever wrestling, So I was very
fortunate to have my sister by my side throughout the
whole ride. But it's just every single time I going
to a tournament, a girls tournament is insane for me
to see like, you know, little girls wrestling and all
(10:06):
these cute little things like pink and purple shoes and
like bows in their hand and stuff, and I'm like,
oh my gosh, like this is so cool, and it
almost makes it It makes it more fun, you know,
when you have you know, girls wrestling each other.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
And just all trying to win.
Speaker 7 (10:21):
But then at the end of the day you see
them like smiling together on the podium because you know,
everyone worked hard to get where they are.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
So I think especially going from it.
Speaker 7 (10:32):
Being because it's crazy because if you think about it,
wrestling is the oldest Olympic sport, but girls wrestling is
very very new, and it's only I mean, I was
born to thousand three, so only you know, you're acting
I was born, which is still fairly new. So just
seeing that, like you know, the generation before me like
(10:53):
really broke those barriers to try to push these opportunities
for my generation now to where now we're trying to
push the exies for the next generation. And so it's
an amazing to see how much of a ripple effect
it's you know, it's happening throughout the years and so
I can't imagine like in another generation or two generations,
(11:14):
it's going to be like, hopefully we're really recognized because
we I feel like we all put in the same
hard work, make the same sacrifices. It's just a matter
of time where people can really see like, oh wow,
women's wrestling is it's booming right now, Like let me
watch this, So yeah, it's it's really cool.
Speaker 6 (11:33):
So I want to talk about the dynamic between you
and your sister, because that is something that is so
special to have grown up in a man's sport but with.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
A sister by her side.
Speaker 6 (11:43):
So first tell us her name, a little bit about her,
and then how did that relationship, that friendship with your
sister really push you to become the wrestler you are today.
Speaker 7 (11:53):
Yeah, my sister, her name is Karna Blades, and she
has won multiple national titles. She's won Fargo, She's been
on multiple world teams. We were finally on a world
team together, a junior World and that's the year I
want it. And then she took bronze, so it was
really cool to bring back world medals to our.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
Parents and the family.
Speaker 7 (12:15):
She recently got surgery, so that's why she wasn't at
the Olympic trials this year, but twenty twenty eight, we're
praying that we both can make that team because I'm
not sure if it's really been done with sisters for
Team USA. So that's gonna be really cool, like that'll
be more history. But yeah, she's just been by my side,
like I said, pretty much my whole life. And it's
(12:38):
great to just have someone to even drill with, you know,
when you go home to practice, you know that certain
move that you didn't get, or when you're cutting weight,
like you're both cutting way together, or you guys both
have to diet together, so it makes it easier when
you have someone by your side or like you have
a team behind you. And so she's been really supportive with,
(12:58):
you know, this whole process in my Olympic journey, because it.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Can get pretty hectic sometimes with like media and like
expectations and all this stuff.
Speaker 7 (13:06):
But like when you have someone like your sister who
can really just medow you down and remind you that
like everything's okay and you're still young and it's just
all opportunities that are just you know, coming your way,
so it's nothing it should be nothing but fun it's
just it's it really makes me happy. So our dynamic
is very strong, and you know, people call us the
(13:28):
Blade Sisters, and it's just it's really cool because Rudis
also uses that signature name to like really promote us
as very you know, strong, independent duo, and I think
that's just super important to showcase that in the world.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
So it's awesome.
Speaker 6 (13:45):
It is so cool to see two sisters who have
had each other's back from the beginning going out there
beating the boys, earning your spot onto USA La eight. Yeah,
absolutely manifesting that you too, it's gonna be the Blade Sisters.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Meantime, you have to carry that to yourself.
Speaker 6 (14:02):
Yeah, in Paris, and you are going to try and
be the third American woman to win a gold fourteen
USA in wrestling. So the first one was Helen Mauruz, right,
she did it in twenty sixteen, and then Tamra Menza
won it in twenty twenty, which made her the first
black woman to win a wrestling gold. What does it
mean to you to carry on that legacy for women
(14:24):
for black women this year in Paris.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
Yeah, I think it's just.
Speaker 7 (14:29):
It's gonna be an incredible moment for sure, and h
I don't remember the last time, or maybe I'm just
but you know, after Latina being on the team, especially
bringing home a medal because I have black and half Latina,
so just having those two backgrounds and you know, representing
the US on that big stage, I think it's just
(14:51):
going to be amazing. And like I said, you know,
seeing all these girls when I go into these events,
some girls that live that look like me, I'm pretty
sure that a latinas they come to me and they
tell me, oh my gosh, you look like me. Good luck,
this is amazing, like you're representing us, and it just
makes my heart warm because when I was younger, I
didn't really have people like that to look up to.
(15:12):
So it's just nice to be a role model to
this generation and to all in general. And at the
end of the day, you know, I have a lot
of different parts that I can represent, because at the
end of the day, I just want to represent everyone,
whether you know, young, old, new to the spot you've
been in for years like me, it's just you know,
(15:33):
you can achieve your dreams no matter what, as long
as you set your mind to it. So it's really
cool that I can represent these young girls because I'm
only twenty, because a lot of these girls, like they're
even high schools. I'm like only like three years older
than he. Like, it's cool that we can you know,
connect and see like, you know, we understand each other.
And then again with like after Latina background, and then
(15:54):
Chicago and then you know, America being born here, and
then my parents, you know. So it's just it's really
cool to be a representation of so many different parts,
but we all, you know, come together as one team,
you say at the end of the day. So yeah,
it's just really cool. And like, I really do want
(16:15):
to bring home a gold medal for America and you know,
for my family and for all the backgrounds, and for
my team and for my coaches, and because it really
does show that not only did I put in the work,
but the team behind me helped me as well. So
this is going to be an exciting experience. And I
pray that I run with the flag, you know, and
(16:37):
the last name.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
So that's gonna be so cool.
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Speaker 6 (17:25):
Now, the other aspect of you describe so many of
the communities that you're bringing to Paris with you. One
of the other ones is the tall girlies. You're coming
in here as one of the tallest wrestlers.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Who is gonna be onto how tall are you?
Speaker 6 (17:39):
And explain to people who may not understand sort of
how your height is out of.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
The norm And yeah, female wrestlers.
Speaker 7 (17:47):
So I'm five eleven, probably a little over five on
like one fourth, but we'll just say five eleven. But
I am.
Speaker 3 (17:55):
Definitely probably the tallest girl in my bracket.
Speaker 7 (17:58):
Usually the girls are not five eight, just because girls
in general are, you know, like five five, five six.
But it's so it's it's gonna be it's gonna be great.
I use my lane to my advantage so much when
I wrestle. I think that's like one of my best
(18:18):
aspects of.
Speaker 3 (18:19):
Me too, is just because I could step over that
leg or my reaches is way past theirs.
Speaker 7 (18:24):
And so, yeah, I saw on YouTube someone made a
video said the tallest girl wrestler in the world. That
was that was just so funny or no, the tallest
girls whatever. Yeah, like someone made a video like this
that was so funny because I probably do look super
long on TV. But yeah, I am pretty tall, and honestly,
(18:46):
hopefully after wrestling, I did ever since I.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Was a little girl. I want to be a runway model.
So we'll see where that will take me after wrestling.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
I love that. I cannot wait. That is such fun
post athletic career dream.
Speaker 6 (19:02):
And yeah, so many women, especially female athletes, who find
their next passion after after their their sport, right, and.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
I can see it for you.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Yeah, I think.
Speaker 8 (19:12):
You're walking in heels. You're walking heels. Okay, I'm not
a flat girl. I love heels, and people are like,
you're so tough, and I'm like, it just makes sense
with the office, you know, it really isn't.
Speaker 6 (19:24):
I will wear the sneakers for you, you can wear the
heels for me, which you know, maybe it should be opposite,
like I should be wanting to make myself taller, but
I can't walk in heels. I'm a Jay's Girls girl.
But I have so much respect for the women who
can walk in heels because I feel like.
Speaker 1 (19:40):
I'm a breaking ankle.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
That's funny.
Speaker 6 (19:45):
How did you get in touch with sort of the
fashion side of your of your personality?
Speaker 1 (19:49):
Like how did that ask you?
Speaker 7 (19:51):
Well, my mom she used to watch America's Next Half
Model all the time. So I would just, you know,
a little girl, just sit there and just watch what
she's watching while she's like robb my back or whatever.
But then I was like, wow, they they're very tall,
like just like me, very tall, lean, and I was like,
that's that's pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
So then sometimes she would be going at work.
Speaker 7 (20:10):
I don't I don't know if she still knows this,
but I would go in a closet and I would
just pretend I'm like on the runway and her heels
and it was just fun and you know, because you
kind of have to walk a certain way to like
represent the clothes, and I just thought like, oh, this
is so cute.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
And then as I got older, you know, I would
I would always be.
Speaker 7 (20:28):
The tallest girl, and I at one point I just
did not like my height.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
I just just didn't like it. I was kind of embarrassed.
Speaker 7 (20:36):
I always have to be in the back of the
in the pictures and just everyone would, you know, So I.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
Was just like man.
Speaker 7 (20:42):
But then every time someone would say are you a
model or oh my gosh, you should be a model
one day, I would take that huge confidence. I'm like, wow,
like maybe I can be one. So then that's when
I started getting confidence. And I was like, you know what,
tall girls rock, you know, like like at the end
of the day, like not sometimes like the normal like
(21:02):
things that are normal. When you're not normal, it makes it,
you know, like you stand out a little bit. So
that's why I just try to switch my mind when
I was younger, and it made me more confident being tall.
So so then yeah, and I was like, hopefully maybe
after wrestling, because I want to do everything like that.
I had my mindset to do since I was younger.
I want to achieve that before you know, I get
(21:25):
too old, like sixty, you know, so gold medal, hopefully
runway model, have a beautiful family, get get into like
the whole business side of the world. So I'm very
into business, so you know, stuff like that, and I
just have these small goals. But time will tell, you
know when it's time. So there's no way I can
do it right now because I'm so focused on this,
(21:47):
you know, wrestling journey first. But then afterwards, yeah, yeah,
of course, so then yeah, afterwards, maybe.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
It's time to like move on, so we'll see.
Speaker 6 (21:57):
I love that and Kennedy, it is so cool because
you touch on something. You're only twenty years old, right,
and you touch on something yet that is so it's
so pivotal for so many of our childhoods and our youths, right,
is like there's something.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
About particular I'm sure. I'm sure men experiences too.
Speaker 6 (22:15):
I grew up a teenage girl and a woman, so
I can only speak to that experience.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
But I feel like so many of us grew up
with some.
Speaker 6 (22:23):
Sort of insecurity, right, and whether that is society driven
or internal or family like whatever that is. We all
grew up with some sort of insecurity, and the moment
that we can figure out like Okay, yes this makes
me different and that actually is my superpower becomes one
of those moments that you look back on and you're like, whoa,
(22:47):
this is when my life had purpose, right, Like, this
is when I figured out that this is what I
want to do and this is the impact that I
want to make on this life.
Speaker 1 (22:56):
And you figure that out before you're even twenty years old.
I mean, what was that.
Speaker 6 (23:01):
Obviously you did wrestling, which in of itself is a
unique sport. We talked about how it just made its
Olympic debut twenty years ago, so it's relatively new for
limited compete wrestling. And then you're embracing this assac to
yourself that was a point of insecurity and being tall,
and now we're saying, no, this is actually something I
can be around the friendly model, right, Like, how did
you how did you figure that out? What was the
(23:24):
support system behind you and the internal dialogues that you
had that you were able to overcome those things?
Speaker 7 (23:32):
Yeah, that's a very good question, I think, just you know,
kind of reflecting on what like, oh sorry, kind of
reflecting on maybe the goals that I want at the
end of the day. I think just you know, like, yeah, this,
(23:52):
this whole wrestling journey is amazing. It's shampion the person
I am today. But I'm not just only a wrestler,
you know. I love I love doing social media, I
love reading, I like make going out to get matcha,
doing my nail stuff like that.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
So I think, just like reflecting on.
Speaker 7 (24:09):
The fact that you don't have when I like, one
thing doesn't identify you one hundred percent, you know, and
whatever you want to do in life, as long as
you work hard, those things will come, you know, and
especially if you trust Christ and allow him to guide
your life, then everything will be okay.
Speaker 3 (24:28):
So yeah, just me realizing that there's more. I'm more
than just a wrestler. You know. I'm more than just
a girl likes fashion.
Speaker 7 (24:36):
I'm more than just you know, certain things like I
can be all these things and you know, be the
person that I still am.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
So I think, just yeah, realizing that there's.
Speaker 7 (24:47):
More to life than just the only thing that some
people think you identify as.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
And I learned that when.
Speaker 7 (24:54):
I was younger, probably around maybe twelve thirteen years old
when I, you know, I my parents will let me
get Instagram. When I was so you know, I was like,
oh my gosh, you know, what is the internet whatever?
So then I would see these fashion accounts and stuff,
and I was like, wow, this is so cool. Like
I love the whole Vogue cover. I love how they
(25:16):
you know, I love how fashion is depicted as far
as you know, how people on the runway walk and show.
You know, it's not just clothes, It's like, you know,
it's a whole style, it's a whole look. So I
think just like seeing these certain videos and then just
reading up on stuff and you know, allowing my mind
to not only be wrestling related, because personally, I can't
(25:37):
just think about wrestling twenty four to seven.
Speaker 3 (25:40):
I'll go crazy because I do.
Speaker 7 (25:42):
I wrestle so much and that's such a big part
of my life when it comes to strain training, dieting,
training in the wrestling room in general. You know, stuff
like that, interviews, all this stuff that when I'm able
to like derail.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
From wrestling, I really take the time to like, Okay,
what else do I want to do? Do I want
to read a book? Do I want to go get
my nails done. I want to go take pictures stuff
like that.
Speaker 7 (26:03):
So just like finding the things that you love and
that you're passionate and just make sure that you really
take time to yourself when life gets pretty crazy. And
I'm very grateful for learning that at such a young age,
because when you get to a certain level, like how
I am at the Olympic level, now, I.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
Need to still be sane.
Speaker 7 (26:23):
Like if I just allowed wrestling to take over everything,
then I would, you know, I would probably get burnt
out early, you know, and I'm pretty young. I could
still do another cycle or twenty thirty two stuff like that.
So if you just you know, allow yourself to not
get burnt out with stuff that you have fun with,
then you know, life becomes amazing.
Speaker 6 (26:46):
So yeah, well it's so cool to hear you talk
about because my story was I did get burnt out,
like I was a gymnast. Was that was my whole
identity for the vast majority of like you know, from
like seven to sixteen or whatever.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
It was like that was.
Speaker 6 (27:02):
I did other things in there because my parents were
great about making sure that I had other interests like piano,
and I had to do some softball, like I had
to do some other things, but for me internally, gymnastics
was the end all be all, that was where I
wanted to be. I wanted to be in the gym
and then I got so burnt out when I was
like midway through high school and it was this massive
(27:24):
moment where it wasn't just that I was sort of
walking away from the sport, but.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
It was like, what do I do now, yeah.
Speaker 6 (27:31):
Outside of outside of being a gymnast. And it's such
a crazy it's such a crazy question because it's one
that you have to answer, right, but like in the moment,
you feel so ill equipped to answer it because you're like, no,
I've only ever been a gymnast, But what you're saying
is like, that's not true. I always had other interests.
(27:52):
I always enjoyed surfing, I always enjoyed hiking. I always
enjoyed telling stories. And like, now here I am right,
like this is the majority of my personality is telling stories.
But it wasn't an easy journey to get there. And
so I think that that reminder that you said of
just like remember the other things that you turn to
is so important when having these sort of critical mass,
(28:15):
these like massive moments where you say, Okay, this massive
part of my personality, the whole thing.
Speaker 1 (28:21):
What next?
Speaker 3 (28:23):
Yeah, I definitely think that's super important.
Speaker 7 (28:25):
And even like I also like even so like for school,
for my parents are really honest with school, and I
wanted to make sure I did a major that to
where I can like pursue that after wrestling, because what
if one day I get hurt and I can't come back,
you know, at least I have something to fall back
on once I get my degree. So yeah, just like
(28:46):
you said, like having something to just turn back to,
you know, even when because you don't want to always
leave the question like what do I do now? So
I think, yeah, if anyone's listening, I would definitely consider
finding other hobbies outside of your main ones that you
can always enjoy life like regardless of what happened.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
Yeah, we are multi dimensional exactly.
Speaker 6 (29:06):
We can love the sports, we can love fashion, we
can love being outside, we can love fonte, we can
love all the things. So I like that We're going
to lean into that today. So I do want to
ask you, because we have an expert on the show here,
I want to ask you for those of us who
are going to be tuning into wrestling and paying attention to.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
Your story, your journey in Paris.
Speaker 6 (29:27):
Give us some like signature moves or things we should
watch out for that we say, oh, Kennedy Blades just
did this, Like, what is this? What is the signature
move that Kennedy Blades has developed in her tall, girly
embracing all of it.
Speaker 7 (29:46):
I think you guys will probably definitely see a blast
double for me because I'm so I just love shooting
and sometimes.
Speaker 6 (29:54):
Wait, you just said blast double and shooting. I thought
we were talking about wrestling, So walk me through. What
is a blast double?
Speaker 3 (30:04):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (30:05):
And why do we call it shooting?
Speaker 3 (30:06):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (30:07):
So basically, when you're offensive and you get to the legs,
like you take a shot, that's called shooting.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
And so I'm yes, okay, yes.
Speaker 7 (30:18):
So you want to take the person down for two points,
and so I'm so explosive with my shots. Sometimes I
fly in the air and I make the other pone
of fly in the air, so I get four points
and and yeah, so you guys will probably see some
end it's called a blast double when you got both
legs but you shoot through them so hard. You guys
(30:39):
both are basically in the air and then they fall
on their back like really hard.
Speaker 6 (30:43):
Yeah, okay, so a blast double is what we can
expect to see.
Speaker 7 (30:49):
And then I'm gonna try to uh, I'm gonna try
to wear pink shoes. Rudishes came out with this really
bright pink shoes because Okay, my favorite colors rose gold,
but its second favorite place off pink. Some a big
pink early like everywhere. But yeah, so you guys are
probably seeing with pink wrestling shoes. Definitely, my nails done
(31:11):
like it's just needs to be, and then I'm gonna
get more blonde in my hair.
Speaker 3 (31:16):
So yeah, basically we're gonna turn the mat. We're gonna
turn the Yes for sure, I love it. Okay.
Speaker 6 (31:27):
And then the last basic wrestling question is you mentioned
the scoring of points, So can you break down the
scoring system for us in as basic terms as you can?
Speaker 7 (31:36):
Yeah, So, basically, like I said earlier, one shot, which
is when you shoot to get to legs and they
hit the floor and on top of them, that's two points.
Sometimes you can defend the shot so you get behind
them and that's two points. Now you have they have
they have to be on the ground for it to
be two points. Anything from feet to back, like a blast,
(31:58):
double hip hop since like a judo throw kind of
those are four points. And then I'm gonna try to
hit a suplex, which is basically you go from you
hold them from the back, and then you literally arch
your back and you suit them on their head and
that's five points. So that's pretty And then if you
(32:19):
step out of the circle, because you'll see on the
map there's a giant circle and you step out at
one point.
Speaker 3 (32:24):
So yeah, okay, that's pretty much the gist of wrestling.
I love it.
Speaker 6 (32:29):
So what I'm my goal before this podcast comes out
is I am going to get either some practice videos
from you or some stick drawings to explain what each
of these moves are through wrestling exactly as we watch
you do the double blast and.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
Yeah, there you go. That's perfect amazing.
Speaker 6 (32:51):
Okay, So Kennedy, we're going to transition now to our
something to sit on segment. And so this is in
partnership with this spot, SPRA, which is a women's sports
bar in Portland, Oregon. So the week of your episode,
they're gonna come out with a signature mocktail for you.
What is your go to drink after a wrestling competition
(33:13):
when you're on that beach someday.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
What do you what are you reaching for?
Speaker 7 (33:16):
Yeah? I like to go for a nice cold Shirley Temple.
I know it's pretty basic, but it's always safe. And
I like to add like three extra strawberries or not strawberry, sorry,
three extra cherries because cherries are just amazing.
Speaker 3 (33:33):
So how can you not learn more? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (33:36):
I love it?
Speaker 6 (33:38):
Okay, perfect, all right, So Shirley Temples, I'm with you.
I like I like having a go to one that
you know everybody's gonna have. You know they're not gonna
mess it up. Like yeah, Shirley Temple, lock it in.
Speaker 1 (33:49):
Okay.
Speaker 6 (33:49):
Next up we're going to go into our powered up question.
So this is rapid fire wance. It answers as quickly
as you possibly can't okay, okay, okay. And also for
the record, this has never gone quickly. We always get
sign tracked. It always conversation, so don't have any pressure
to actually go quickly, but I like to set the expectations.
Speaker 3 (34:09):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (34:10):
First one, pop your tea a tea okay, favorite ice
cream flavor.
Speaker 3 (34:16):
Ben and Jerry is a tonight dough man, that's so good.
Speaker 6 (34:20):
Girl is my favorite at Oh my gosh, this episode
is not brought to you by the but if you
want it to be, let me know.
Speaker 1 (34:30):
Okay, go to meal either before or after wrestling.
Speaker 7 (34:35):
Before wrestling always had to get the Shampo Fredo for
protein and carbs.
Speaker 3 (34:40):
After wrestling, a nice steak. Okay, yeah, I love that.
Speaker 1 (34:45):
That reminds me. In gymnastics, we always went to olive gardens.
Speaker 6 (34:48):
Yeah, yeah, exactly, I think they were everywhere.
Speaker 3 (34:54):
Yeah exactly.
Speaker 7 (34:56):
Actually I'm gonna get one. I'm gonna actually order that right.
Actually this podcast because we have not swell so it's perfect,
so we gotta go.
Speaker 1 (35:05):
Okay, I love it.
Speaker 6 (35:07):
Okay, are you an early bird or a night all?
Speaker 7 (35:13):
With night All was like you go to bed let
right or yeah, yeah, I'm definitely a night It's bad.
Speaker 3 (35:18):
Well, so love Okay.
Speaker 6 (35:25):
Favorite place that your sport has taken you.
Speaker 1 (35:29):
You can't say Paris if you want to.
Speaker 7 (35:34):
Honestly though I was technically I didn't rush with my
sister of Cadet world is Budapest hungry so beautiful?
Speaker 3 (35:43):
M hmm.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
I love that.
Speaker 6 (35:44):
If you were not a wrestler, what sport would you
want to be an Olympia in definitely volleyball. Okay.
Speaker 7 (35:53):
I played volleyball in middle school, so I was outside
and then my sister was cetter and we were killing it.
Speaker 1 (35:59):
But oh I bet Okay, So what about a beach
volleyball duo with the blades.
Speaker 3 (36:05):
That would be good. That's a good thought.
Speaker 6 (36:09):
I'm not.
Speaker 1 (36:11):
Yeah, duel sport.
Speaker 3 (36:15):
Oh wow, that's that's crazy.
Speaker 6 (36:18):
We're throwing it out there. We're throwing it out there.
We'll just see what happens if anybody could do it.
I fully believe in the Blade sisters. For the record,
what is your favorite dessert?
Speaker 3 (36:29):
Maybe I like a good brownie. Actually, brookies are so good.
Speaker 1 (36:36):
Yeah, the brownie cookie combo yep.
Speaker 3 (36:38):
And a little good great yep. Yes, little gooey yeah, yeah,
for sure, it's.
Speaker 1 (36:43):
Gotta be gooey. What is your dream vacation spot.
Speaker 7 (36:49):
I think, honestly, just because iconic Bora, because like, why not,
this will go you know, I love it.
Speaker 1 (36:59):
I love it any beach anywhere I'm in.
Speaker 3 (37:02):
Okay.
Speaker 6 (37:02):
What is the one thing that your parents taught you
that has stuck with you?
Speaker 3 (37:09):
That's good?
Speaker 7 (37:10):
I think right when I was when I right when
I started to get a study income invest in roth
Berry right away.
Speaker 3 (37:18):
That I think is important. Yes, so yeah, m hm.
Speaker 1 (37:23):
Yes, I love that. So important and not taught to
us enough.
Speaker 3 (37:28):
Actually, yep, I agree.
Speaker 6 (37:30):
Okay, what is the you said your your sister had
an injury when she was coming into trials. What is
the wildest It doesn't have to mean injury, but like
the wildest mishap that has ever happened for you in wrestling.
Speaker 3 (37:42):
It could be oh, yeah, I know you. Yeah, I
had food.
Speaker 7 (37:48):
So last year I was at Junior World and we
got food poisoning. But I still wrestled because I was like,
there's no way, I've traveled all the way to Jordan,
who was in Middle East.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
So Jordan and I brought I brought home a bronze medal.
I didn't win, but I was like, at least say
I have a medal.
Speaker 7 (38:04):
But yeah, I was about like I was like six kilos.
Andrea was crazy, but I brought a metal.
Speaker 6 (38:12):
Oh my godness, so food poisoning but she still manages
to bring home a medal.
Speaker 3 (38:18):
Yeah, thank god. It was literally him.
Speaker 6 (38:21):
Oh my gosh, what is the most weight you've ever
had to cut before competition?
Speaker 7 (38:25):
Twenty twenty one Olympic Trials. Sixteen pounds in three weeks.
I did it though, like I felt good.
Speaker 3 (38:33):
I don't know how I did. We just did it
very smart. And yeah, sixteen pounds and three weights.
Speaker 1 (38:38):
She girl, Yeah okay.
Speaker 6 (38:41):
And then last question is wrestling has a lot of
different weight divisions and discipline. So can you tell me
what is your weight division and your weight class in division?
Speaker 7 (38:53):
My weight class is seventy six kilos, but I'm always light,
so my like, I really need to focus on eating
more actually, so it's kind.
Speaker 3 (39:03):
Of a nice.
Speaker 7 (39:04):
It's nice because I can eat before wims. Yeah, exactly.
But also I'm not gonna like gaining weight. It's hard,
Like it's not easy. Some people think it is, but
like when you have to force yourself to eat, it's
it's definitely difficult.
Speaker 3 (39:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (39:22):
And then is there are there different divisions in terms
of like freestyle.
Speaker 7 (39:28):
Oh yeah, so there's there's men's freestyle and men's greco
and then there's only women's freestyle. Okay, and each division
has six weight classes. So I'm the heaviest weight perfect okay.
Speaker 1 (39:40):
And then this is the last question is podcast.
Speaker 6 (39:43):
This media platform is called The Powerful and we're all
about highlighting powerful women when they feel their most powerful.
So when do you, Kennedy Blaze, feel the most powerful?
Speaker 7 (39:55):
I feel maybe this is a little you know, but
I feel most powerfu when I get my hand raised,
because I just want, you know, so I think that's
when I'm like, wow, I feel like I'm on top
of the world right now.
Speaker 3 (40:08):
Yeah, I would say that time, it's a pretty good time.
Speaker 6 (40:11):
I hope that that hand gets raised in Paris. What
are the dates of your competition in Paris?
Speaker 7 (40:16):
August tenth and eleventh, and then eleventh that night is
closing ceremony, So I'm literally the last day of the
Olympic Games.
Speaker 3 (40:24):
Last.
Speaker 1 (40:25):
It's crazy strong.
Speaker 3 (40:26):
Yep, yeah, strong, gat We love.
Speaker 1 (40:29):
To see it. Kennedy, thank you so much for being
on The Powerful Podcast.
Speaker 6 (40:33):
It was such a joy to get to know you,
your family, your story a little bit better.
Speaker 1 (40:37):
Cannot wait to root you on in Paris and beyond.
Speaker 3 (40:40):
Yeah, thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1 (40:42):
All right, we'll see you next week on the Powerful Podcast.
Thanks for being with us.
Speaker 6 (40:45):
This is a reminder to check us out every Tuesday
all summer long, everywhere you get your podcasts. And if
you really enjoy this and don't want to miss an episode,
be sure to hit that subscribe itton
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