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
- L.A. Fires Show Reality of 1.5°C of Warming
- Home Losses From L.A. Fires Hasten ‘An Uninsurable Future’
- The Women Refusing to Participate in Trump’s Economy
- Bad Bunny On Heartbreak and New Album
- How to Dress Warmly for Cold Weather
- We’re Lucky to Have Been Alive in the Age of David Lynch
- The Motivational Trick That Makes You Exercise Harder
- Column: No One Won The War in Gaza
Write to Julia Lull at julia.lull@time.com and Sean Gregory at sean.gregory@time.com