Kiki Kelley named Founding Member of USA Wrestling’s International Ambassador Council
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Photos depict Kiki Kelley as part of the wrestling delegation at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Christina 'Kiki' Kelley, Rio 2016 Olympic-cycle Greco-Roman Wrestling Team Leader and Minneapolis, Minn. resident, has been named USA Wrestling’s inaugural International Ambassador for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic cycle. Although the position is still being developed, her first task is as the founding member of the U.S. International Ambassador Council (USIAC).
“Wrestling diplomacy is a way for us to address huge gaps in mutual understanding. As we get more tribal throughout the world, we must build bridges. I really feel that there is not only a need to promote women and youth in our sport if we are serious about ensuring wrestling’s continuation, but we must also forge new paths for our Senior-level wrestlers and lay the firmest of foundations to guarantee wrestling’s future.”
USIAC will feature a group of wrestling leaders who will focus their experience and abilities on building individual and collective global support for wrestling. The ultimate goal of USIAC is to promote wrestling as a positive force in local, national and global communities.
“Throughout my travels,” Kelley said, “wrestling and soccer vied for popularity because of their low barrier to entry. After meeting Team Refugee at the Rio Olympics and speaking to leaders in the sport like Sally Walczyk Roberts, I could not stop thinking about kids--boys and girls--in war-torn regions and refugee camps. I think about how wrestling could be brought to them so that they have a positive way to channel their pain, and develop into adults with not only coping skills, but leadership skills, and even dreams of being an Olympian.”
Kelley will represent the USA Wrestling Greco-Roman program on the USIAC Council. A key focus for her work will be to enhance U.S.-Iran wrestling cooperation, and expanding the international stature of the U.S. Greco-Roman wrestling team. She will also build stronger international support for women’s wrestling. Kelley also has a great interest in expanding youth wrestling exchanges.
“I believe that wrestling helps channel youth to a very positive place. Look at the wonderful contributions to our sport and society that our American wrestling clubs, Beat the Streets chapters, and foundations like Wrestle Like a Girl have made,” she said.
As Greco-Roman Team Leader for the National and Olympic teams, Kelley was the first woman to serve in that position. She was also the first woman to represent any country in formerly all-male venues in Iran, where she has visited Tehran, Isfahan, and Kermanshah. During her time in Iran, she acted as Goodwill Ambassador, participating in high-level meetings, helping draft documents on the furthering of US-Iran relations through sports diplomacy as well as providing support of the first Women's Belt Wrestling team in Iran.
“During my tenure as Greco-Roman Team Leader, certain things became apparent. For instance, wrestling plays a crucial role in furthering sports diplomacy. Most Americans have no idea how much our U.S. Diplomacy benefits from and builds upon sports and cultural exchanges. We go to countries in which we have no embassy. We get to know these people, and develop connections that can lead to treaties being signed. It can be scary, no doubt about it, but in the end we have thus far made lasting friendships and elicited positive change,” she said.
Through her unique role as the only woman Team Leader of a Greco-Roman team, Kelley has worked with the US State Department's Sports Diplomacy desk, participating in meetings and a televised Mid-Atlantic Council panel on wrestling diplomacy. In addition, she has garnered publicity for the sport, highlighting wrestling’s unique diplomatic role in the world through interviews with BBC World, the Voice of America, Al Monitor, Takedown Media, and throughout the Persian diaspora.
Prior to becoming Greco-Roman Team Leader, Kelley was the sponsor of a top international Greco-Roman dual meet, the Kiki Cup, which was held in Colorado Springs, Colo., for three years. In 2013, Kelley was instrumental in renaming the event the Jack Pinto Cup, in loving memory of the six-year-old wrestler who was tragically killed in the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., in December 2012. Kelley was awarded USA Wrestling’s Woman of the Year for 2012.
Kelley is the first of a group of leaders who will serve a four-year term with the USAIC. Commitments are being finalized, with announcements on the other Founding Members of the Council coming soon. Should the Council and Ambassador program prove to be as successful as the Team Leader program, the hope is that it is replicated throughout United World Wrestling, the USOC, even at the IOC level. USA Wrestling is positioning itself as a leader in strengthening wrestling’s position in the Olympics through such forward-thinking projects.
“As a USA Wrestling Team Leader, I found my footing as a Wrestling Mama to the wrestlers. The International Senior tournaments would leave me hoarse because of the intensity of the competitions, while at domestic tournaments like ‘The War of the Roses,’ I’d end up completely inspired, hugging or presenting awards to the young wrestlers. In this new role as USIAC Ambassador, I can branch out and spend time with all three senior teams and the youth,” she said.
Kelley will attend the Dave Schultz Memorial in February, attend a meeting in Washington, DC about USIAC, travel with the Greco-Roman team in March to Denmark and Croatia, and that’s just the beginning.
“I want to build upon all of these relationships I’ve made with all three Senior teams as well as our youth programs via the USA Wrestling Ambassador role,” she said. “And through the new USIAC council, we will be merging the wrestling world with the diplomacy world. This goes way beyond our country. Most people don’t realize how big wrestling is worldwide, and the unique role it can play in turning out great human beings and breaking cultural barriers. As an itinerant traveler, I am up for anything,” she said.
Christina 'Kiki' Kelley, Rio 2016 Olympic-cycle Greco-Roman Wrestling Team Leader and Minneapolis, Minn. resident, has been named USA Wrestling’s inaugural International Ambassador for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic cycle. Although the position is still being developed, her first task is as the founding member of the U.S. International Ambassador Council (USIAC).
“Wrestling diplomacy is a way for us to address huge gaps in mutual understanding. As we get more tribal throughout the world, we must build bridges. I really feel that there is not only a need to promote women and youth in our sport if we are serious about ensuring wrestling’s continuation, but we must also forge new paths for our Senior-level wrestlers and lay the firmest of foundations to guarantee wrestling’s future.”
USIAC will feature a group of wrestling leaders who will focus their experience and abilities on building individual and collective global support for wrestling. The ultimate goal of USIAC is to promote wrestling as a positive force in local, national and global communities.
“Throughout my travels,” Kelley said, “wrestling and soccer vied for popularity because of their low barrier to entry. After meeting Team Refugee at the Rio Olympics and speaking to leaders in the sport like Sally Walczyk Roberts, I could not stop thinking about kids--boys and girls--in war-torn regions and refugee camps. I think about how wrestling could be brought to them so that they have a positive way to channel their pain, and develop into adults with not only coping skills, but leadership skills, and even dreams of being an Olympian.”
Kelley will represent the USA Wrestling Greco-Roman program on the USIAC Council. A key focus for her work will be to enhance U.S.-Iran wrestling cooperation, and expanding the international stature of the U.S. Greco-Roman wrestling team. She will also build stronger international support for women’s wrestling. Kelley also has a great interest in expanding youth wrestling exchanges.
“I believe that wrestling helps channel youth to a very positive place. Look at the wonderful contributions to our sport and society that our American wrestling clubs, Beat the Streets chapters, and foundations like Wrestle Like a Girl have made,” she said.
As Greco-Roman Team Leader for the National and Olympic teams, Kelley was the first woman to serve in that position. She was also the first woman to represent any country in formerly all-male venues in Iran, where she has visited Tehran, Isfahan, and Kermanshah. During her time in Iran, she acted as Goodwill Ambassador, participating in high-level meetings, helping draft documents on the furthering of US-Iran relations through sports diplomacy as well as providing support of the first Women's Belt Wrestling team in Iran.
“During my tenure as Greco-Roman Team Leader, certain things became apparent. For instance, wrestling plays a crucial role in furthering sports diplomacy. Most Americans have no idea how much our U.S. Diplomacy benefits from and builds upon sports and cultural exchanges. We go to countries in which we have no embassy. We get to know these people, and develop connections that can lead to treaties being signed. It can be scary, no doubt about it, but in the end we have thus far made lasting friendships and elicited positive change,” she said.
Through her unique role as the only woman Team Leader of a Greco-Roman team, Kelley has worked with the US State Department's Sports Diplomacy desk, participating in meetings and a televised Mid-Atlantic Council panel on wrestling diplomacy. In addition, she has garnered publicity for the sport, highlighting wrestling’s unique diplomatic role in the world through interviews with BBC World, the Voice of America, Al Monitor, Takedown Media, and throughout the Persian diaspora.
Prior to becoming Greco-Roman Team Leader, Kelley was the sponsor of a top international Greco-Roman dual meet, the Kiki Cup, which was held in Colorado Springs, Colo., for three years. In 2013, Kelley was instrumental in renaming the event the Jack Pinto Cup, in loving memory of the six-year-old wrestler who was tragically killed in the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., in December 2012. Kelley was awarded USA Wrestling’s Woman of the Year for 2012.
Kelley is the first of a group of leaders who will serve a four-year term with the USAIC. Commitments are being finalized, with announcements on the other Founding Members of the Council coming soon. Should the Council and Ambassador program prove to be as successful as the Team Leader program, the hope is that it is replicated throughout United World Wrestling, the USOC, even at the IOC level. USA Wrestling is positioning itself as a leader in strengthening wrestling’s position in the Olympics through such forward-thinking projects.
“As a USA Wrestling Team Leader, I found my footing as a Wrestling Mama to the wrestlers. The International Senior tournaments would leave me hoarse because of the intensity of the competitions, while at domestic tournaments like ‘The War of the Roses,’ I’d end up completely inspired, hugging or presenting awards to the young wrestlers. In this new role as USIAC Ambassador, I can branch out and spend time with all three senior teams and the youth,” she said.
Kelley will attend the Dave Schultz Memorial in February, attend a meeting in Washington, DC about USIAC, travel with the Greco-Roman team in March to Denmark and Croatia, and that’s just the beginning.
“I want to build upon all of these relationships I’ve made with all three Senior teams as well as our youth programs via the USA Wrestling Ambassador role,” she said. “And through the new USIAC council, we will be merging the wrestling world with the diplomacy world. This goes way beyond our country. Most people don’t realize how big wrestling is worldwide, and the unique role it can play in turning out great human beings and breaking cultural barriers. As an itinerant traveler, I am up for anything,” she said.
