theGrio’s 100: Kay-Ci Bele, aspiring Olympic wrestler overcomes the odds
theGRIO's 100 - Kay-Ci Bele is a freshman wrestler at Jamestown College in North Dakota. She was a four-time state champion in high school, earning many of her victories against boys...
Who is Kay-Ci Bele?
Kay-Ci Bele is a freshman wrestler at Jamestown College in North Dakota. She was a four-time state champion at Western High School in Davie, Florida. Many of her victories came against boys.
She aspires to wrestle in the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
Why is she on theGrio’s 100?
Bele first caught the attention of many when she became a finalist for Seventeen magazine’s ‘Pretty Amazing’ Real-Girl cover contest. Of more than 25,000 young girls who applied, Bele’s story stood out.Â
Her dad encouraged her to try wrestling after she revealed to him she had been molested by a family member.  Bele tried her hand at Brazilian jiu-jitsu first, but then settled on wrestling after learning how to do “takedowns.”Â
Wrestling became her outlet and a positive way she could channel her anger.
What’s next for Bele?
Bele is an elementary education major at Jamestown College with a minor in communications. She told Fort Lauderdale magazine’s Alexander Roland “she sees herself, in ten years, as a teacher and role model for girls and boys.”Â
Until then, her goal remains competing in the 2016 Olympics. Along the way, she hopes to be named an “All-American” in wrestling.
Follow Kay-Ci Bele on Twitter @WrestlerChica
