A small-town girl turned national hero; Kennedy Blades returned to Garfield Ridge just in time for Halloween.
Blades, a wrestler who took the silver medal in the women’s 76-kilogram event at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, served as grand marshal of the Midway Chamber of Commerce’s annual Halloween Pumpkin Jamboree Parade on Saturday, Oct. 26.
The parade traveled down Archer Avenue, concluding with a Halloween party at John F. Kennedy High School, 6325 W. 56th St., Chicago.
“It means a lot to me to come back to such a supportive community,” said Blades, 21. “To me, these aren’t just my friends and neighbors—they’re my family. It feels great to be back.”
Blades, who attended Wyoming Seminary in Pennsylvania, started Brazilian jiu-jitsu at age 4 with her sister, Korina. She switched to wrestling at 7, joining a local club. Since wrestling wasn’t widely offered for girls, Blades often trained against boys, winning several youth championships, including becoming the first female to win the Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation title in 2016.
At 17, Blades placed second at the U.S. trials for the 2020 Olympics, losing to Tamyra Mensah-Stock, who went on to win gold.
After high school, Blades joined Arizona’s Sunkist Kids wrestling club and enrolled at Arizona State University. She won gold at the 2021 U20 World Championship, silver at the 2023 U23 World Championship, and gold at the 2023 Ibrahim Moustafa Tournament. In 2024, she defeated Olympic medalist Adeline Gray at the U.S. trials, securing her spot in the Olympics.
As the festivities wound down, Blades remained surrounded by fans and friends, a testament to her impact on Garfield Ridge. Her journey from local athlete to Olympic medalist brought a renewed sense of pride to the community, inspiring young athletes and reminding everyone that even the biggest dreams can begin in small neighborhoods.
“No matter where life takes me, Garfield Ridge will always be home,” Blades said. “It’s all about giving back to the place that gave so much to me.”
