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Meet Kelsey Campbell

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsey Campbell.

Kelsey, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
It began as a high school dare. A couple of guys on my high school team, between the banter of whatever we were discussing, challenged me to last two weeks in the sport of wrestling. I was a multi-sport athlete, as well as an accomplished singer, songwriter and dancer (even at that age). To be honest, I didn’t have a great childhood and found myself constantly doing things like this. I was in a constant state of ‘proving myself.’ I will never forget walking into the wrestling room in my senior year of high school. I was the first one in the room and the head coach thought I was the Team Manager. He handed me a mop and returned to his office. I remember being at a crossroads. This was my out. I was terrified but also felt like I was onto something. And that sense of being ‘onto something’ is a feeling I’ve felt many times in my life, often with no proof or reason to believe so. In any case, I set the mop against the wall and took my place where the team would later begin to pile in.

Surviving through that first season, I’m not even sure if you can call it wrestling. I don’t know what techniques I learned, but I know I gained some friendships and a strange, new desire to pursue wrestling.

I went on to compete in two National Tournaments following that season, something I never would have done without the encouragement of my high school coach. Placing at both, I realized maybe I could be ‘good’ at wrestling. I got beat by almost every guy I wrestled that senior year, but maybe again my peers (women) I could be successful.

I graduated high school, which I guess could have been an exciting time, except I had no place to live. My parents were separated. My dad lived out of state and my mom pays rent through June and advised me to ‘figure it out,’ followed by packing her bags and moving out. I graduated in May and went on to stay with friends here and there. I eventually began working two jobs, began becoming much more involved in my church ministry, and with the help of my grandparents, began taking classes at the nearby community college.

I had become strong in my faith and soon, the church I was a part of asked if I would help lead a College Ministry in Arizona as part of a new church. I agreed as Ministry had also become a dream for me. I had no idea what I was doing or what my path was, I just knew I wanted to impact people. I needed to take some classes at the community college in Arizona but eventually transferred to Arizona State University. It was at this time that a lot began to change.

I was ‘training’ with an ASU Grappling club and an individual that would go on to be a huge influence and mentor in my life insisted I walk-on the ASU Wrestling team. No woman had ever done it, but he believed I had some potential. He saw something in me that could cut it on the team. So I did! In 12 months, I saw the college ministry grow in amazing ways, I began attending ASU, and I walked on the wrestling team, the first female to ever do so at this school, and the 13th to ever do so on a D1 men’s wrestling team. The following year I was the US Open, making my first Senior National Team. I realized then that if I wanted to be the best in the world, I would need to train with the best in the world. The National Team Coach and I had had many conversations throughout that year about training full time at the Olympic Training Center. I finally took the step. I put my Ministry and music dream on hold and moved all I had to Colorado to make a run for the 2012 Olympics.

It seemed crazy, probably because it was. But I knew I had this window to do it. And while everything leading up to this point seemed so unlikely, somehow I was suddenly in a position to do it.

I finished school online two years after I moved. Even though I had had success, making to Sr. World Teams, I had never beat the top girl at my weight class. In 2012 at the Olympic Trials, I finally did!

I competed in the 2012 Olympics in London, taking 17th overall. I met my sports hero, Kobe Bryant. I saw so many friends and family in London. I sustained a collar-bone injury right before my Olympic appearance and had to get surgery a few months after. Because the surgery was so unique and only about three of this kind had ever been performed in the US, I had to fly to New York to proceed with the operation.

Even with the injury, I was able to experience some incredible things that healed my heart after the devastating losses in London, and my body while I couldn’t compete. I worked in the Marketing Department at eBay for 9 months, did appearances around the country, and got to train in different places, rebuilding my love for the sport.

I was connecting with amazing athletes through the efforts of the Women’s Sports Foundation and had begun training at ASU again, now alongside other Sr. Level athletes. I also began working with Angel Cejudo, one of the best wrestling coaches in the US, in my opinion.

2016 came around and once again I found myself as an underdog. At the Olympic Trials that year, I somehow found a way to victory, and won my second Olympic Team Trials for Team USA!

Now, nearly 18 years later, I am still on the National, training full-time to win Gold in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, I split my time between Arizona and Colorado, forcing myself to train with the best wrestlers available to me. With the US Open and international tournaments coming up, I am focusing on each day and making the most of every opportunity. However, in this, I make a vow each day to never lose myself in all of it. A lot of athletes can be jaded by image, creating a story about themselves that isn’t real. I never wanted to be or do that. If and when I win the Gold in Tokyo, it will be because I lived each day honestly and authentically. So that when all is said and done, I will be able to share a real story that is mine.

When not perfecting my craft, I volunteer for the Arizona Humane Society and the Sunkist Kids Wrestling Academy. I am also currently co-producing and recording an EP of original music, with many performances lined up for 2020. I recently accomplished the Regional Title of Ms. Arizona and will participate in the Majestic International Pageant later in 2020.

Kelsey is most grateful for this journey because of the opportunities it has created for her and many other women, both on and off the mat.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t. As I’ve shared, not even out of high school I was figuring out how I would support myself and where I would lay my head each night. This wasn’t the last time I would be in this situation. There were times, even after I competed in the Olympics, when people would tell me I should quit and that I was passed my prime. Committing a life towards an Olympic Gold Medal is difficult financially, relationally and even emotionally at times. Aside from the wins and losses, such a life can impact friendships, and even what a person is and is not willing to do to get to the top. So yes, there have been struggles. But when you choose a path, and you desire something like this, you always come out on top. When I look at my journey, I can’t help but believe I was meant for this. I’ve had too many opportunities to quit, and too many interventions- I believe, from God- to stay.

Please tell us about your work.
I train and compete for Team USA and USA Wrestling, both domestically, and internationally. I’ve traveled the world, combatting with the best athletes in the world. I am known for my position and ability to find ways to win on big stages- at least this is what I have been told. I think what sets me apart from others is true that I came from situations that people do not rise above to make an Olympic Team. I am a textbook example that no matter how challenging your childhood may be, no matter how backed against the wall you are, with faith and drive you can truly accomplish whatever crazy goal is hidden in the back of your mind.

I think what I am most proud of is that. I am proud that I’ve learned from both friends and competitors on this journey, that I’ve overcome being homeless as a high schooler, and even as the #1 athlete in the country, and still held my head high and ket my integrity through it all. I’m proud of the experiences I’ve had volunteering and sharing my story. There have been victories on the mat, but I’m proud of the things that happened in the shadows of that. The amazing things my heart learned through the highs and lows of this journey.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Singing and writing music. It was the most positive memory I have.

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