By Julia Lull and Sean Gregory
An Olympic gold medal is never a sure thing. But if you were to bank on any U.S. athlete wining in Rio, wrestler Adeline Gray will likely reward you. She’s that dominant. Gray, a three-time world champ and daughter of a Denver police officer, is seeking to win America’s first ever gold in women’s wrestling. A key to her success? She treats her sport as art. “I can’t paint, I can’t draw,” says Gray, who competes in the 75KG/165LB weight class. “Where I feel creative is on the wrestling mat.”
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Welcome to the Noah Lyles Olympics
- Melinda French Gates Is Going It Alone
- What to Do if You Can’t Afford Your Medications
- How to Buy Groceries Without Breaking the Bank
- Sienna Miller Is the Reason to Watch Horizon
- Why So Many Bitcoin Mining Companies Are Pivoting to AI
- The 15 Best Movies to Watch on a Plane
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Write to Julia Lull at julia.lull@time.com and Sean Gregory at sean.gregory@time.com