PARIS — There was another level to Kennedy Blades’ wrestling that needed to be unlocked. 

At times, she’d look otherworldly on the mat, overwhelming opponents with speed and explosiveness, blasting through them with highlight-reel double-leg attacks. 

But there were also instances when veteran opponents would use their strength and savvy to turn the tide of a tough bout and Blades would struggle to regain control. 

In a bid to make her first Senior-level World team last June, Blades built big leads against Adeline Gray and then watched them dissolve in two straight defeats against the six-time World champion. 

That’s when her longtime coach, Israel Martinez, sought outside help and turned to the leader of a national powerhouse program. 

Kelly Hiller has guided Northwestern’s women’s lacrosse team to eight national titles in 23 seasons. Her daughter, Harlee, is a rising star in judo and an up-and-coming wrestler who trains in Martinez’s Izzy Style Club in suburban Chicago. 

“(Kelly is) a real mental genius,” Martinez said. “I’m not a woman. A woman understands a woman, and when it’s dark and nasty and tough, I can only get so much out of my athlete. I’ll do anything it takes for my athletes. If I’ve got to find a coach, a dietician, a doctor, whatever it takes, I’ll do. 

“I started investigating who Kelly was, listening to her interviews and talking to her daughter and other people around her, and when Kennedy had a couple bad events, I knew we needed more help. That’s just it. That’s my job — to find more help for my athletes.”

With Hiller checking in Saturday with text messages and offering keywords and advice, Blades put her growth on display inside Champ de Mars Arena, buckling down in the Olympic quarterfinals and semifinals. The 20-year-old Illinois native and recent Iowa commit grinded out hard-fought victories against seasoned Senior-level vets to reach Sunday’s 76-kilogram gold medal bout. 

“I’m just so proud of Kennedy,” Martinez said after Blades downed Kyrgyzstan’s Aiperi Medet Kyzy 8-6 in the semifinals. “Kennedy has grown so much. She’s grown through self-doubt and belief and insecurities and anxiety and everything young athletes are growing through nowadays. She’s not invincible. She has weaknesses. She’s a human being, but she’s been able to conquer those feelings and conquer that energy and have coping methods to deal with the negative side of being one of the best athletes in the world. There’s a lot of pressure and you’ve got to find your way through it.” 

Blades said Hiller has suggested taking a “child-like mentality” to the mat, focusing on having fun to alleviate the pressure she was putting on herself to live up to rankings and reputation.

“Coach Kelly has been absolutely amazing and she’s really a great human being and takes time out of her day to train Kennedy mentally and schedules it while she has the best lacrosse team in the country,” Martinez said. “We brought her in because we needed her and she’s done a phenomenal job and we wouldn’t be here without her.”

Medet Kyzy tested Blades’ mettle in the semifinals. Blades went up 8-2 in the second period, thanks in part to some nifty work on the edge of the mat, resulting in a key takedown. Medet Kyzy, a 2023 World silver medalist, rallied back with a takedown and a turn, but Blades didn’t flinch.

It came on the heels of a 4-3 quarterfinal victory against Cuba's Milaimys Marin.  

“I’ve definitely matured a lot these last two years, going and training at Sunkist Kids,” Blades said. “I was training with adults and in the beginning, I was kind of losing, but it was because I’d get in my own head and I was so used to teching everyone and now these guys are fighting back. I’ve definitely matured, and I know no matter what you’re going to have to stay in the fight and you’re going to have to figure out a way.”

The United States women’s freestyle team kicked off the week in Paris with a 20-year-old Olympic champion when Amit Elor ran the table at 68 kilograms. The Americans will try to bookend the tournament with another 20-year-old champion Sunday afternoon when Blades faces reigning World champ Yuka Kagami of Japan. 

“We're so close,” Blades said. “Just one more sleep, and then my body's gonna be feeling really good, although it is right now. But just the rest is gonna make a huge difference. I'm ready to just blow it through the water.”