#WomensWednesday: Check out Kristie Davis' 2003 World gold medal win in Madison Square Garden
by USA Wrestling
In 2018, Kristie Davis became only the second woman elected as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Davis is one of the greatest U.S. wrestlers in history, and the winningest woman in American history. She won nine career World medals, tieing Bruce Baumgartner for the most in American history. Two of those World medals were gold medals.
During her career, Kristie competed under three last names, her maiden name Stenglein, her first married name Marano and her current married name Davis.
In 2003, Kristie qualified for her seventh World Team, having won a medal in her six previous Worlds, including a gold medal in 2000. A native of Albany, N.Y., she had an opportunity to wrestle in her native state when the World Championships were held in Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Kristie powered through her bracket, winning four straight matches to reach the finals. Included were three pins and a technical fall. In the gold-medal finals, Kristie dominated Ewelina Pruszko of Poland, 7-1 to win her second career World title and her seventh career World medal. She was able to hear the U.S. National anthem in front of many family and friends who were there with her at the Garden.
Kristie Davis later won two more World medals, and added two WCWA national titles for Oklahoma City University. She is currently the head women's wrestling coach at Emmanuel College in Georgia.