#TeamUSATuesday: Greco-Roman National Team member Kamal Bey
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Kamal Bey is currently the No. 1 wrestler at 77 kg/169.8 lbs. for Team USA’s Greco-Roman National Team.
The 21-year-old Illinois native has been residing and training at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs since high school.
Bey is known for his big throws and exciting style of wrestling that has made him a Junior World champion and a Senior U.S. World Team member. Bey placed seventh in the 2018 Senior World Championships.
Bey took time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions. Here are his top answers.
.
What is your favorite movie?
My favorite movie would be Rambo because it’s an American classic. Stallone’s acting skills progressively got better. His dialogue in the movies is so simple and he’s so limited in what he says because he’s just out there killing stuff.
Who is your favorite musical artist?
My favorite musical artist is Al Green because any time of day he brought so much soul to his music. Hearing him sing about the times people were going through, it was just different back then.
What is your favorite sport other than wrestling to watch?
My favorite sport other than wrestling would be soccer. My favorite player in the league is Neymar on Paris Saint-Germain.
Who is your favorite wrestler either past or present to watch?
My favorite past wrestler is Bruce Baumgartner and my favorite present wrestler would be Tamyra Mensah.
What is your favorite place you’ve travelled to?
My favorite place I’ve travelled to would be Havana, Cuba. It has so much culture, so much good food, and I learned how to salsa there.
If you were to win the lottery, what would be the first thing you would do with the money?
The first thing I would do would be make some obscene purchase like a yacht. After that I would be smart about it and make my investments, but after I bought my boat.
What are some of your hobbies you enjoy doing off the mat?
When I’m off the mat, I go roller-skating.
How did you get involved in wrestling?
I started wrestling when I was three years old. My dad pretty much put me in it. I watched my older cousins do it and I was like, “yeah, I’m in.”
How did you get involved in Greco?
Actually, the first style of wrestling I learned was Greco-Roman. I got in late in the season, so they put me in the Greco states and stuff. So, I actually learned Greco before freestyle when I was a kid.
How beneficial has your relationship with TC Dantzler been?
My relationship with TC will always be the same. He’s been a father figure to me. He’s a dad before a coach. Talking to him, he always has my best interests at heart, and he’ll tell it like it is. If I’m slacking, he’ll let me know I’m falling off and need to get back on track. He’s been there for the wins but also mentoring and raising people to be young men.
Do you have any pre match rituals?
Before every match I rub my eyebrows and my ears and I beat my chest.
What motivates you to be your best?
What motivates me is knowing there are younger athletes out there looking up to me. What got me really into wrestling was seeing people like me do wrestling and people who came from the same situation as me prosper in wrestling. Just seeing that is encouraging because as a young personal you don’t really know what you want to do in life.
How has wrestling impacted your life?
Wrestling has impacted my life so significantly. Just travelling and seeing how people have their own day to day struggles and seeing how good I have it, it really humbles you. And it helps you develop your self-determination. When things get really tough, especially in the wrestling room, there’s no greater feeling than being able to break through, push yourself to new heights, and do things you never thought you’d do in life.
Why do you wrestle the way you do?
I want to show the people what it can be like. I’m radiating off of the wrestling flow or whatever you want to call it. It’s never been more serious than that for me. I’m just a fun person, so I like my wrestling to reflect my personality.
If you have to pick a favorite moment of your wrestling career, which would you pick?
I would say my favorite moments are just listening to guys on the team argue. It’s crazy some of the things wrestlers will say back and forth to each other.
The Bey File
Born: Jan. 3, 1998 in Bellwood, Ill.
High School: Oak Park, Ill. (Oak Park River Forest), Colorado Springs, Colo. (Pine Creek)
Club: Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Residence: Colorado Springs, Colo.
Instagram: @itz_kbey
Twitter: @ThatManChasin
• Senior World Team member (2018)
• Junior World Champion (2017)
• Two-time U.S. Open Champion (2017, 2018)
• Three-time Junior World Team member (2016, 2017, 2018)
• Two-time Dave Schultz Memorial International champion (2017, 2019)
• Two-time Bill Farrell Memorial International champion (2016, 2018)
• Fargo Greco-Roman champion (2015)
• Four-time Fargo Greco-Roman All-American (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016)
• Illinois State champion (2014)
The 21-year-old Illinois native has been residing and training at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs since high school.
Bey is known for his big throws and exciting style of wrestling that has made him a Junior World champion and a Senior U.S. World Team member. Bey placed seventh in the 2018 Senior World Championships.
Bey took time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions. Here are his top answers.
.
What is your favorite movie?
My favorite movie would be Rambo because it’s an American classic. Stallone’s acting skills progressively got better. His dialogue in the movies is so simple and he’s so limited in what he says because he’s just out there killing stuff.
Who is your favorite musical artist?
My favorite musical artist is Al Green because any time of day he brought so much soul to his music. Hearing him sing about the times people were going through, it was just different back then.
What is your favorite sport other than wrestling to watch?
My favorite sport other than wrestling would be soccer. My favorite player in the league is Neymar on Paris Saint-Germain.
Who is your favorite wrestler either past or present to watch?
My favorite past wrestler is Bruce Baumgartner and my favorite present wrestler would be Tamyra Mensah.
What is your favorite place you’ve travelled to?
My favorite place I’ve travelled to would be Havana, Cuba. It has so much culture, so much good food, and I learned how to salsa there.
If you were to win the lottery, what would be the first thing you would do with the money?
The first thing I would do would be make some obscene purchase like a yacht. After that I would be smart about it and make my investments, but after I bought my boat.
What are some of your hobbies you enjoy doing off the mat?
When I’m off the mat, I go roller-skating.
How did you get involved in wrestling?
I started wrestling when I was three years old. My dad pretty much put me in it. I watched my older cousins do it and I was like, “yeah, I’m in.”
How did you get involved in Greco?
Actually, the first style of wrestling I learned was Greco-Roman. I got in late in the season, so they put me in the Greco states and stuff. So, I actually learned Greco before freestyle when I was a kid.
How beneficial has your relationship with TC Dantzler been?
My relationship with TC will always be the same. He’s been a father figure to me. He’s a dad before a coach. Talking to him, he always has my best interests at heart, and he’ll tell it like it is. If I’m slacking, he’ll let me know I’m falling off and need to get back on track. He’s been there for the wins but also mentoring and raising people to be young men.
Do you have any pre match rituals?
Before every match I rub my eyebrows and my ears and I beat my chest.
What motivates you to be your best?
What motivates me is knowing there are younger athletes out there looking up to me. What got me really into wrestling was seeing people like me do wrestling and people who came from the same situation as me prosper in wrestling. Just seeing that is encouraging because as a young personal you don’t really know what you want to do in life.
How has wrestling impacted your life?
Wrestling has impacted my life so significantly. Just travelling and seeing how people have their own day to day struggles and seeing how good I have it, it really humbles you. And it helps you develop your self-determination. When things get really tough, especially in the wrestling room, there’s no greater feeling than being able to break through, push yourself to new heights, and do things you never thought you’d do in life.
Why do you wrestle the way you do?
I want to show the people what it can be like. I’m radiating off of the wrestling flow or whatever you want to call it. It’s never been more serious than that for me. I’m just a fun person, so I like my wrestling to reflect my personality.
If you have to pick a favorite moment of your wrestling career, which would you pick?
I would say my favorite moments are just listening to guys on the team argue. It’s crazy some of the things wrestlers will say back and forth to each other.
The Bey File
Born: Jan. 3, 1998 in Bellwood, Ill.
High School: Oak Park, Ill. (Oak Park River Forest), Colorado Springs, Colo. (Pine Creek)
Club: Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Residence: Colorado Springs, Colo.
Instagram: @itz_kbey
Twitter: @ThatManChasin
• Senior World Team member (2018)
• Junior World Champion (2017)
• Two-time U.S. Open Champion (2017, 2018)
• Three-time Junior World Team member (2016, 2017, 2018)
• Two-time Dave Schultz Memorial International champion (2017, 2019)
• Two-time Bill Farrell Memorial International champion (2016, 2018)
• Fargo Greco-Roman champion (2015)
• Four-time Fargo Greco-Roman All-American (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016)
• Illinois State champion (2014)
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