While people spend time telling three-time wrestling world champion Adeline Gray that she's "too pretty to wrestle," she focuses on dominating her sport. In a few weeks the 25-year-old will be heading to Rio to compete in the Summer Olympic Games, and she's ready to make history—the United States has never achieved an Olympic gold in women's wrestling. Gray is currently ranked number one in the world in her weight division of 75kg, but three years ago she thought about quitting. In 2013, Gray took home a bronze medal at the World Wrestling Championships in Budapest. “I worked really hard that year and it was heartbreaking to not come out with a gold,” she says. “I really had to reflect on that third place. I wasn’t happy mentally, and I thought about quitting.”
After the competition she sat down with her coaches to figure out what she can do differently to avoid the frustrations of her physical and emotional burnout. “I was getting hurt, I mentally wasn’t where I needed to be in order to be successful.” It came down to working smarter, not harder, and truly listening to her body. “I couldn’t just show up to be there and go through the motions. I needed to be in tune with my body.” Gray revamped her training and ditched a super strict program. “Staying healthy was my biggest priority.” Her renewed passion and perspective paid off—in 2014 and 2015 Gray took home World Titles and secured her spot on Team USA in 65 seconds against opponent Victoria Francis at the Olympic trials this year. “I’ve had the best three years, and to think I was so close to quitting. It was really important for me to take a little time and do that soul searching. I had to go through those growing pains and find that confidence again.”
Adeline Gray's Road To Rio:
6: Age when Gray began wrestling
37: Gray’s current match win streak
3: Number of World titles (2012, 2014, 2015)
2016: When Gray earned her bachelor’s in business with a specialty in project management from DeVry University
To read the full article written by Bari Lieberman, please visit SELF.
