Learn about wrestling from World champion in freestyle wrestling Lee Kemp.

Lee Kemp, in his first major international tournament, won a gold medal at 74 kg (163 pounds) at the world freestyle championships in August 1978. At the age of 21 years and 8 months, he had become the youngest American to capture a world or Olympic gold medal. He held that distinction for 30 years until Henry Cejudo won the Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

He repeated as world champion in 1979 and 1982—becoming the first American to win three times—and added a bronze medal in 1981. He also won a gold medal at the 1979 and 1983 Pan American games. He was the U.S. freestyle champion for five straight years from 1979 through 1983. The U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics prevented him from winning the ultimate prize—an Olympic gold medal. Kemp retired in 1984 after finishing second at the U.S. Olympic trials. His record in all international competition was 53–8.

Kemp was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 1990. Then at the Beijing Olympics, where he was one of the freestyle coaches for the U.S., he became just the fifth American to be inducted into the FILA International Wrestling Hall of Fame.

World Championships

Gold medal – first place 1978 Mexico City 74 kg

Gold medal – first place 1979 San Diego 74 kg

Gold medal – first place 1982 Edmonton 74 kg

World Super Championships

Gold medal – first place 1980 Nagoya 74 kg

Interviewed by Daniel Sword from the non-profit Inspirational People.

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