Kennedy Blades Wiki, Age, Height, Net Worth 2026

Kennedy Blades is an American freestyle wrestler best known for winning Olympic silver at Paris 2024 and back to back World bronze medals at 68 kg. Her move down from 76 kg to 68 kg tested her strength, speed and tactics, yet she remained ranked number one in the United States at her new weight. Like fellow international wrestlers Antim Panghal and Tanu Sharma, Blades built her reputation through age group success before reaching senior podiums. She combines long reach, powerful double leg attacks and improving mat wrestling.

Early Life

Kennedy Alexis Blades was born on September 4, 2003, in Chicago, Illinois, according to USA Wrestling and her University of Iowa profile. She is the daughter of Saul Jr. and Cindy Pulido, and she has a brother, Saul Pulido III, and a sister, Korina. Her family background and early training in Chicago shaped a competitive outlook, and she began wrestling against boys at a young age in a sport where girls had far fewer opportunities.

Blades made history in Illinois youth wrestling when she became the first girl to win an Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation championship against boys in 2016, according to reports about her early career. She later attended Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School in Kingston, Pennsylvania, a school known for strong wrestling programs. That move gave her regular high level training and national competition, and it prepared her for international age group events while she was still a teenager.

Her age group record showed early promise on the world stage. She won gold at the 2021 U20 World Championships at 72 kg, and she finished seventh at the U17 World Championships in 2019. She also reached the final of the United States Olympic Trials in 2021 at only 17 years old, losing to the eventual Olympic champion. Those results marked her as a future senior team contender well before her Olympic breakthrough.

Career

Blades rose through the American system with steady results at under 23 and junior level. She won silver at the 2023 U23 World Championships at 76 kg and bronze at the 2023 U20 World Championships at the same weight. She also won titles at the Pan American Championships age group level and established herself as a regular member of United States national teams. USA Wrestling lists her as a five year Team USA member across the 2021-22 through 2026-27 seasons.

Her defining breakthrough came in 2024, when she defeated six time world champion Adeline Gray at the United States Olympic Team Trials to earn the 76 kg place for Paris. At the Paris Olympic Games, she won the silver medal in women’s freestyle at 76 kg at the age of 20, confirming her status as one of the leading young wrestlers in the world. The result followed years of age group medals and made her one of the most recognisable American women wrestlers of her generation.

After Paris, Blades moved to 68 kg and rebuilt her senior career at the lighter weight. She won gold at the 2025 Pan American Championships at 68 kg and bronze at the 2025 World Championships in Zagreb at the same weight. In college wrestling, she represented the University of Iowa after an earlier period at Arizona State University, and she won national titles at 160 pounds, including the inaugural NCAA women’s championship in 2026 at Coralville. USA Wrestling named her its women’s college wrestler of the year in 2025.

At the 2026 World Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, Blades earned her second straight senior World bronze medal at 68 kg on October 29, 2026. According to USA Wrestling, she beat Laura Koehler of Germany by fall, lost to Meerim Zhumanazarova of Kyrgyzstan, who went on to reach the final, and then won repechage against Srishti of India by technical fall. In the bronze medal match, she trailed Delgermaa Enkhsaikhan of Mongolia 2-0 before taking control and pinning her opponent, with USA Wrestling recording the fall at 5 minutes 12 seconds.

Personal Life

Blades has kept her romantic life private, and no reliable source confirms a spouse or partner as of October 2026. Her public profile focuses on wrestling, family and interests outside sport, including fashion and a stated ambition to work as a runway model. She has also spoken about enjoying city life and beach visits, interests that show a life beyond training camps and competition travel.

Her family remains part of her public story, with her twin sister Korina also competing in wrestling at a high level. USA Wrestling lists her pets as an American Bulldog XL named Rocky and a tortoise named Quick Silver, small details that appear in her official profile. Those personal touches have helped fans connect with her beyond results, while still leaving most private matters undisclosed.

In 2026, Blades left the University of Iowa with a year of college eligibility remaining to focus on professional Olympic style wrestling with Real American Freestyle, according to reports about her decision. She became the middleweight champion of that organisation and stated her aim of preparing for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The move marked a clear shift from college competition toward a full time senior international career.

Kennedy Blades Net Worth 2026

Kennedy Blades net worth in 2026 is not publicly disclosed, and no reliable source has published a verified figure for her earnings. Her income may include national team support, competition prizes, college related opportunities and professional wrestling appearances, but none of those amounts has been confirmed in a reputable financial report. Any specific net worth number on unofficial biography pages should therefore be treated as unverified speculation.

Her move into professional wrestling with Real American Freestyle could increase her commercial profile, especially as she builds toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. However, contract terms for that organisation have not been publicly reported in reliable sources as of October 2026. Until verified earnings or contract details appear, the accurate position is that her net worth remains undisclosed rather than estimated.

FAQ

How old is Kennedy Blades?

Kennedy Blades was born on September 4, 2003, which made her 23 years old in October 2026. She won Olympic silver at Paris 2024 when she was 20 years old.

What is Kennedy Blades height?

Kennedy Blades height is listed as 5 feet 11 inches, or 180 centimetres, in her public biographical record. Her height is notable in women’s wrestling, where she uses reach and leverage to support powerful leg attacks.

What weight class does Kennedy Blades wrestle?

Kennedy Blades now competes at 68 kg in women’s freestyle, after winning Olympic silver at 76 kg in Paris in 2024. She was ranked number one in the United States at 68 kg for the 2026-27 season, according to USA Wrestling.

Did Kennedy Blades win a medal at the 2026 World Championships?

Yes, Kennedy Blades won bronze at the 2026 World Wrestling Championships in Astana at 68 kg. She pinned Delgermaa Enkhsaikhan of Mongolia by fall in the bronze medal match on October 29, 2026.

Who did Kennedy Blades lose to at Astana 2026?

Kennedy Blades lost to Meerim Zhumanazarova of Kyrgyzstan during the Astana 2026 tournament, before Zhumanazarova reached the final against Jia Long of China. Blades recovered through repechage to win the bronze medal.

What is Kennedy Blades net worth?

Kennedy Blades net worth is not publicly disclosed as of October 2026. No verified earnings figure has been reported by a reliable source, so specific amounts online should be regarded as unverified.