DENVER -- The chalk board in Donna and George Gray's kitchen says "Rio or bust to gold." Their daughter and three-time world champion, Adeline Gray, will soon compete a shot at her dream, a gold medal.
"She's ready for it and she's earned that title of world champion and so now she needs to go out there and prove it one more time," said George.
The entire family and extended family is making the trip to Rio de Janeiro to watch her compete on Thursday, August 18.
Adeline is the oldest of four girls. Her father teases they kept trying for a boy but he never could have imagined the odds he would end up with an Olympic athlete.
She began wrestling at age six, then went on to win the state championship for 6-year-old boys. After her early success she was hooked on the sport. In middle school and high school, she continued to test her skills in men's tournaments.
"I think she earned a lot of respect with the boys by, you know, competing at those tournaments and getting better," said George.
If Gray wins the gold it would be the first for U.S. Women's wrestling. She wants to inspire other girls to dream big and pursue sports.
"It’s just a progression from 'OK, the excitement is here, the stress is here,' and now I see her progressing into the, 'I’m going to get ready to wrestle,'" said Donna.
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