picture of Kennedy Blades

Kennedy Blades is a Wyoming Seminary wrestler from Chicago, Illinois who shocked the wrestling world by making the finals of the 68-kg Olympic Trials at the age of 17. She defeated two-time Senior-level World team member Forrest Molinari in dominant fashion before losing in the finals to 2019 World Champion and eventual 2020 Olympic gold medalist Tamyra Mensah-Stock.

  1. Kennedy Blades Signs With Iowa Wrestling

    Kennedy Blades Signs With Iowa Wrestling

    Jul 23, 2024

    The University of Iowa added another big-name commitment to this year's recruiting class. Kennedy Blades will be a Hawkeye when she returns from the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she is representing the United States at 76 kg.
  2. 2024 Women's Freestyle Olympic Wrestling Seed Breakdown

    2024 Women's Freestyle Olympic Wrestling Seed Breakdown

    Jul 16, 2024

    Seeds have been released for the 2024 Olympic Games. Here is a breakdown of the potential U.S. women’s freestyle wrestling brackets with an explanation by FloWrestling's Jon Kozak on how seeds are determined.
  3. Women's Freestyle Takeaways From 2024 Olympic Team Camp

    Women's Freestyle Takeaways From 2024 Olympic Team Camp

    Jul 11, 2024

    USA Wrestling’s women’s freestyle team recently held its final training camp before traveling to Paris for the 2024 Olympics. Here is what we learned.
  4. Kennedy Blades Wins Five Straight Matches To Make Olympic Wrestling Team

    Kennedy Blades Wins Five Straight Matches To Make Olympic Wrestling Team

    Apr 21, 2024

    The path wasn't easy, but Kennedy Blades made the 2024 Olympic Team at 76 kilograms.
  5. Get To Know Your 2023 Women's Freestyle U23 World Team

    Get To Know Your 2023 Women's Freestyle U23 World Team

    Oct 15, 2023

    The 2023 U23 World Championships are live on FloWrestling October 23-28 in Tirana, Albania, on October 25-27. Here is what you need to know about this year’s women’s freestyle team.
  6. U.S. Women's National Team Shows Diverse Paths To Success

    U.S. Women's National Team Shows Diverse Paths To Success

    Oct 9, 2023

    There’s more than one way to reach high-level success — and this year’s women’s national team proves it. The top three finishers at every weight are on the USA Wrestling National Team, which leads to funding and first-in-line preference for international competitions.
  7. U.S. Women Have Tough Decisions To Make For 2024 Olympic Trials

    U.S. Women Have Tough Decisions To Make For 2024 Olympic Trials

    Sep 26, 2023

    The 2023 World Championships are over, and now the real work begins. The Olympic Games, unfortunately, shrinks to six weight classes in each style from 10 at the Worlds.
  8. Women's Freestyle Veterans Prevail Over Youth At Final X

    Women's Freestyle Veterans Prevail Over Youth At Final X

    Jun 11, 2023

    There was talk of a youth movement at this year’s Final X in Newark, New Jersey. Five participants were teenagers, and only Amit Elor had made a previous senior-level World team.
  9. Women's Freestyle Final X 2023 Watch Guide

    Women's Freestyle Final X 2023 Watch Guide

    Jun 6, 2023

    Final X, presented by Tezos, determines the 2023 U.S. Senior World Teams in all three Olympic disciplines: men’s and women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman. Final X is the last leg in the World Team Trials process.
  10. 2023 Final X Wrestling Schedule, Matchups, And Previews

    2023 Final X Wrestling Schedule, Matchups, And Previews

    Jun 5, 2023

    FloWrestling will stream 2023 Final X presented by Tezos on Saturday, June 10. Final X will determine the 2023 World Teams in Men's Freestyle, Women's Freestyle, and Greco-Roman. A best-of-three series will be contested at each of the ten weight classes in those three styles. Below is the event schedule, a list of all 30 matchups, and links to preview content for the event.
  11. Final X Match-up: Kennedy Blades vs Adeline Gray

    Final X Match-up: Kennedy Blades vs Adeline Gray

    May 26, 2023

    Final X, presented by Tezos, is Saturday, June 10 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, and will be streamed LIVE on FloWrestling. Final X determines the 2023 U.S. Senior World teams in all three Olympic disciplines: men’s and women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman.
  12. U23 Women's World Team (Almost) Set

    U23 Women's World Team (Almost) Set

    May 23, 2023

    The recent World Team Trials Challenge tournament decided four remaining Final X spots, but it also provided clarity on who will represent the United States at the U23 World Championships in Tampere, Finland on October 23-29. U23 National champions are not guaranteed a spot.
  13. Women's Weekly: What We Learned From The World Team Trials

    Women's Weekly: What We Learned From The World Team Trials

    May 22, 2023

    The World Team Trials took place over the weekend and all Final X matchups are now set. Below are the 10 best-of-three matches we get to see along with what we learned from the weekend.
  14. 76 kg Is Good As Gold For The United States

    76 kg Is Good As Gold For The United States

    May 5, 2023

    Watching the 76-kilogram field compete at the US Open was like watching the World Championships — only better. The United States currently has the five best 76 kg wrestlers in the world, and it’s not even close.
  15. US Open Women's Freestyle Wrestling Preview

    US Open Women's Freestyle Wrestling Preview

    Apr 21, 2023

    Below is a preview of the women’s US Open field based on the latest registration list. There’s always a chance that a quality wrestler enters at the last minute or that a wrestler switches weight, but this offers an overview of the leading contenders at each weight.