Features / Wrestling
Trailblazing Olympic Gold medallist to inspire Bristol athletes
The first African American Olympic gold medallist in freestyle wrestling is in Bristol this weekend to teach and share his love for the sport.
Working with Wrestle for Humanity, a sports-based social project in Horfield, Kenny Monday will share more than 50 years of knowledge and his incredible story of sporting triumph in the face of prejudice.
As part of the collaboration, Wrestle for Humanity is working with street artist Oshii to create a mural featuring Kenny alongside other influential wrestling figures who do good work for their communities.
is needed now More than ever
The mural will be part of a ‘Wall of Kindness’, an idea that is popular in Iran where you can leave quality unwanted goods for those who need it.
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The idea of bringing Olympic ‘wrestling royalty’ to town is the brainchild of elite wrestling and performance coach Saeed Esmaeli, whose work helps people to be the best they can be on the mat and in life.
He has embraced the notion “if you can see it, you can be it”, meaning that when we meet inspiring people early in life it can sow the seeds for future success.
Kenny is a trailblazer for Black athletes in the sport of wrestling and is admired by fans across the globe. He is one of the most accomplished American wrestlers to this day.
Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the 1960s, the athlete grew up in the era of racial segregation. He found a passion for wrestling at the YMCA from the age of five, a sport which was at the time traditionally dominated by white athletes.
When schools were forcibly integrated, Kenny found himself the only Black child in a mostly white arena. The prejudice became insufferable and Klu Klux Klan-affiliated locals would even burn crosses at matches.
Kenny decided to give up the sport because referees would consistently award any close wins to his opponents. His father encouraged him to focus on his love for the sport and ignore the politics. From that day, Kenny vowed to be head and shoulders better than other athletes so there was no doubt of the winner.
His ability to transmute his bad experiences into steely determination ultimately created one of the USA’s best ever wrestlers.
He went on to win numerous state titles and All-American championships. It was after Kenny defeated the 1984 Olympic champion Dave Schultz (whose tragic death was featured in the Hollywood film Foxcatcher), that his coach told him “you now have the opportunity to be the first”.
Kenny won gold in the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea, followed by the World Champion title in 1989 and Olympic Silver in 1992.
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Mayor Marvin Rees welcomed Kenny and his wife, Sabrina, a global business leader, to the city.
Sabrina posted: “History meets History! Europe’s first mayor of Black African Caribbean descent. Kenny Monday, first African American to win GOLD in Olympic wrestling!”
Kenny’s seminar on Saturday is the latest of a series of visits designed to bring world-class figures to Bristol to raise young people’s aspirations, spread a message of hope and elevate the sport of freestyle wrestling.
Kenny is delighted to be part of Wrestle for Humanity because he shares coach Esmaeli’s belief that love is a platform for change.
“My love for the sport has allowed me to do well in life,” says Kenny.
“I want to share this love and give back to society. It’s about encouraging people to love themselves, love their families, love their teammates and love their community.”
Through sport, Kenny gained personal strength and resilience. He believes it’s a way for people, who may never interact in daily life, to overcome judgements about one another through shared humanity.
Kenny is also working with a Bristol-based film company that is making a series about his life and current work.
Find more information and book via: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/champions-knowledge-olympic-wrestling-with-kenny-monday-saeed-esmaeli-tickets-380476514497
Those with little or no income interested in attending can get in touch with Wrestle for Humanity via: www.m.facebook.com/wrestleforhumanity/
Main photo: Saeed Esmaeli
Read more: The unlikely bond between an Iranian wrestler and a Bristol vicar
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