Lee Kemp is one of the greatest wrestlers in American history. Before a legendary college and international career, he found wrestling as a ninth grader in Chardon, Ohio. He won three NCAA titles for Wisconsin (1976-78), reaching the finals four straight years (1975-78). Kemp became the first U.S. wrestler to win three World titles (1978-79, '82) but faced heartache when the United States boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics due to the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan.
How Did Lee Kemp Get So Good, So Fast?
Sep 1, 2024
Lee Kemp found wrestling as a ninth grader after quitting the basketball team. He finished 11-8 as a sophomore before going undefeated the next two seasons. He won three NCAA titles (1976-78) and reached the finals four times (1975-78) for the University of Wisconsin. That led to three World titles (1978-79, '82) and a berth on the 1980 Moscow Olympic team that the United States boycotted due to the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. Learn how Kemp went from a wrestling neophyte to the NCAA Championship finals in four years.
