Kayla Colleen Kiyoko Miracle (born April 26, 1996) is an American wrestler competing through Campbellsville University, Kentucky.[1] She is currently majoring in Sports Management.[2]

Kayla Miracle
Kayla Miracle at the 2021 World Wrestling Championships in Oslo, Norway
Personal information
Full nameKayla Colleen Kiyoko Miracle
Born (1996-04-26) April 26, 1996 (age 28)
Brawley, California, U.S.
Home townCulver, Indiana, U.S.
Height5 ft 3 in (160 cm)
Sport
CountryUnited States
SportWrestling
Weight class62 kg / 136 lb
EventFreestyle
College teamCampbellsville University
ClubSunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Medal record
Women's freestyle wrestling
Representing  United States
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2021 Oslo 62 kg
Silver medal – second place 2022 Belgrade 62 kg
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 2019 Lima 62 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Santiago 62 kg
Pan American Championships
Gold medal – first place 2021 Guatemala City 62 kg
Gold medal – first place 2024 Acapulco 62 kg
Silver medal – second place 2022 Acapulco 62 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Lauro de Freitas 58 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Lima 62 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Buenos Aires 62 kg

Wrestling

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Miracle is a two time U.S. Open Champion in 2017 and 2018. She won the 2015, 2016, and 2017 University Nationals.[2] She won the 2018 Klippan Lady Open in Sweden.[3] In 2015, she won the 136-pound title in the Women's Collegiate Wrestling Association finals in Saint Louis, Missouri.[4] She is the fourth wrestler to win four Women's Collegiate Wrestling Association national titles.[5]

In 2020, she won the silver medal at the Pan American Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament, in the women's 62 kg division.[6]

She currently trains at the Hawkeye Wrestling Club in Iowa City, Iowa.[5]

On February 13, 2018, she was named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week.[7] She was selected to compete in the 2020 Summer Olympics.[8]

Miracle won the silver medal in the women's 62 kg event at the 2022 World Wrestling Championships held in Belgrade, Serbia.[9][10] She won one of the bronze medals in the women's 62 kg event at the 2023 Pan American Games held in Santiago, Chile.[11] She defeated Nathaly Grimán of Venezuela in her bronze medal match.[11]

In 2024, Miracle won the gold medal in her event at the Pan American Wrestling Championships held in Acapulco, Mexico.[12] She defeated Ana Godinez of Canada in her gold medal match.[12] A few days later, at the Pan American Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament held in Acapulco, Mexico, she earned a quota place for the United States for the 2024 Summer Olympics held in Paris, France.[13][14] She qualified for the Olympics at the 2024 United States Olympic trials held in State College, Pennsylvania. She competed in the women's 62 kg event at the Olympics.[15]

Miracle is a lesbian and the first out LGBTQ Olympic wrestler.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "Biography - Kayla Miracle, IA". www.usawmembership.com. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Kayla Miracle - Women's Wrestling". Campbellsville University Athletics. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  3. ^ "UWW Final Book" (PDF).
  4. ^ "Kayla Miracle now a national champion". Culver News. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Goodwin, Cody. "'Iowa is home': Kayla Miracle aiming for next step in career with Hawkeye Wrestling Club". Hawk Central. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  6. ^ "Senior Pan-American OG Qualifier Bulletin" (PDF). March 2020. p. 78.
  7. ^ "Feb 13 Athlete of the Week, Team USA". Archived from the original on December 2, 2018.
  8. ^ Outsports (July 12, 2021). "At least 180 out LGBTQ athletes at Tokyo Olympics, a record by far". Outsports. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  9. ^ Brennan, Eliott (September 13, 2022). "Olympic medallist Kayaalp returns to champion status at World Wrestling Championships". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  10. ^ "2022 World Wrestling Championships Results Book" (PDF). United World Wrestling. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 18, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  11. ^ a b "2023 Pan American Games Wrestling Results Book" (PDF). United World Wrestling. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  12. ^ a b "2024 Pan American Wrestling Championships Results Book" (PDF). United World Wrestling. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 28, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  13. ^ "Qualified NOCs at 2024 Pan American Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament" (PDF). United World Wrestling. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  14. ^ "2024 Pan American Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament Results Book" (PDF). United World Wrestling. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  15. ^ "Wrestling Results Book" (PDF). 2024 Summer Olympics. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 11, 2024. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  16. ^ Zeigler, Cyd (June 14, 2021). "Kayla Miracle is 1st ever out Olympic wrestler". Outsports. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
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