SR1161 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1161 LRB103 42330 LAW 75554 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to congratulate Kennedy Blades on winning the silver medal in the women's wrestling freestyle 76-kilogram event at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France; and

WHEREAS, Kennedy Blades, the daughter of Saul Pulido and Sergeant Cindy Ramos of the Chicago Police Department's 7th District, is a resident of Garfield Ridge and a current student of the University of Iowa; and

WHEREAS, To qualify for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, Kennedy Blades defeated six-time world champion and 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics silver medalist Adeline Gray in the 76-kilogram class at the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials in April 2024; and

WHEREAS, Kennedy Blades obtained the silver medal in the final 76-kilogram match against gold medalist Yuka Kagami of Japan on August 11, 2024, with a final score of 1-3; and

WHEREAS, Through Kennedy Blades' achievement, the United States became the only country other than Japan to win more than one Olympic gold medal since the women's wrestling event was added to the Summer Games in 2004; and

WHEREAS, In honor of her achievements, Kennedy Blades was selected to serve as grand marshal of the annual Halloween Pumpkin Jamboree Parade on Archer Avenue in Chicago on October 26, 2024; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Kennedy Blades on achieving the silver medal in the women's wrestling freestyle 76-kilogram event at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, commend her for serving as an exemplary representative of the State of Illinois and the United States, and wish her continued success in her athletic endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Kennedy Blades as an expression of our esteem and respect.