“The goal is Olympic gold. I mean, it’s big. I can forever say I’m an Olympian, but like, now we’re really there. I want to finish the job.” The 20-year-old American wrestler has qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics after her heroic win at the US Olympics Trials in April. Kennedy Blades earned her spot on the US Team by defeating Adeline Gray, a six-time world champion and Olympic silver medalist, not once but twice. “It didn’t really sink in. I just like winning, and I felt the energy from the crowd. But then when I went in the back, I was like, whoa. Like, this is happening. All of my prayers and dreams and everything. It’s coming true.” Blades definitely needed a while to sink in the win against the world champion.

Blades clinched several championships by competing against boys, thanks to her wrestling training with them. She was just 7 years old when she started wrestling. In 2016, she became the first female to win the IKWF Illinois state title, as there were not many girls in wrestling at that time.

Well, it turns out that she is not the first one in their family to pursue wrestling. Her sister, Korina Blades, is also a wrestler but has been out of the game due to her injuries. “Ever since we were little girls, the stuff we went through with doing those really hard practices and, boys never wanting to be our partners. We always had to go with each other. But, luckily, we always had each other.” The Blades sisters have been each other’s support throughout the games since their childhoods, and there is no doubt about that! While Kennedy’s sister is one of her biggest supporters, there is someone else as well who has trained her and supported her in her journey.

Meet Kennedy Blades’ coach, Israel Martinez

Blades’ coach, Israel Martinez, is one of the most decorated wrestlers-turned-coaches in the US. “Izzy helps me mentally. He knows what I’m capable of. And sometimes I can get in my own head, like when I’m training and stuff. And he helps me snap out of it.” Martinez has been the biggest support for her, both mentally and physically. He knows how to deal with Kennedy’s challenges that might come her way.

Kennedy and Israel’s sharing the same goal of winning Olympic gold has helped them sync better together all these years. The coach believes in her and her determination to win the medal: “She won’t break. She’ll keep going and finds a way to win.” After being together and training for all these years, Israel is intimately familiar with her mindset. As referred to by Kennedy, Israel is the “Yoda of wrestling,” with whom she has competed on both national and international levels. But what needs more spotlight is Blades’ and Martinez’s wrestling coaching journey.

The glorious coaching career of Martinez

Israel Martinez, a five-time IKWF state champion and recipient of both the Marty Combe and Ron Irwin Outstanding Wrestler Awards, stands out as one of the most esteemed wrestlers from Illinois. Starting his wrestling career at just 9 years old, alongside his brother, Israel trained under their father, Jose. After securing numerous accolades and championships, Israel transitioned to coaching in 2004 to maintain his connection to the sport. He built the Izzy Style School of Wrestling in 2005, which quickly rose to prominence as a premier coaching center. Israel Martinez founded this center to give back to the sport that had given him so much.

After founding the wrestling center, Israel Martinez transitioned to coaching MMA, a sport that greatly intrigued him. He trained at the renowned Jackson’s MMA, which significantly advanced his coaching career. Over the years, both as an athlete and a coach, Israel Martinez has nurtured and developed many famous and renowned athletes other than Kennedy Blades, and he continues to do so with unwavering dedication.