In a world where gender equality continues to be a pressing issue, the realm of sports often serves as both a battleground and a beacon of progress. As March Madness sweeps across the nation, showcasing the pinnacle of collegiate basketball talent, it also brings into focus the strides made towards gender parity in sports. Against this backdrop, a prominent figure in US wrestling emerges as a vocal advocate for extending this equality to all facets of athletics, including wrestling.

As a 6X world wrestling champion and a Tokyo 2020 silver medalist, Adeline Gray’s athletic prowess speaks volumes about her dedication and skill. On this, Terry Steiner, Gray’s coach and the head of the United States women’s team for the last 15 years said, “Within the wrestling community she’s definitely been a great spokesperson for us and moving forward”. Gray’s words resonate beyond the wrestling mat fueling the momentum towards a more equitable and inclusive sporting world.

March Madness: A beacon of gender equality

The sense of equality sparked in the basketball community resulted in other athletes raising the issue. The 2X Olympian wrestler Adeline Gray came forward and challenged the beliefs through a story on Instagram that said, “I still believe we(wrestling) will get to a point where it is called women’s freestyle not women’s wrestling. Basketball is ahead of us in equality. #equality #NameMySportNotMyGender”. She also stated this, “I’m confident in my femininity enough to know that I can come on this mat and be strong and be powerful and really still be goal-oriented and not have it disrespect or take away from my femininity”. Adeline shared a post about the male and female roster in the NCAA Basketball, and the recent change of competition names.

All of the differences were pointed out at once in the post. The first slide started with the change of “women’s wrestling” to “March Madness”. The differences were everywhere, from the food provided to the kits for the athletes. Even though the NCAA claimed to provide an equal opportunity to both genders, the reality was the opposite. Gray says women are “a breath of fresh air to wrestling”. “I’m glad that the IOC and international wrestling had a wake-up call.” However, the women’s basketball got alloted to use the March Madness branding, and things seemed to be getting better. 

Adeline Gray’s role as a global advocate for gender equality

The U.S. has never won an Olympic gold medal in women’s wrestling. But if Adeline Gray has anything to say about it, that will change—and soon. A three-time world champion, including the two most recent contests in 2014 and 2015, the 25-year-old is favored to make the podium at the Rio Games. However, Gray’s influence extends far beyond the confines of the wrestling mat. She is carving a path as a trailblazer in advocating for gender equality saying, “We’re still developing role models in women’s wrestling”. Adeline is one of the few women sponsored by Asics, one of the biggest backers of elite wrestling.

Read More: 6x World Champion Wrestler Adeline Gray Honors Legacy of First-Ever Black Olympic Wrestling Gold Medalist Amid Black History Month

Speaking passionately about wrestling as a gateway to combat sports for young women, Gray emphasizes, “Wrestling is safe”. She believes that securing equal sponsorships is not only necessary for the sport’s growth but also essential for the talents and achievements of female wrestlers.