U.S. Women’s Olympic Team honored with Wrestle Like A Girl’s Afsoon Courage Award for remarkable performance in Paris

(WASHINGTON D.C.) Wrestle Like A Girl (WLAG) names the USA Women’s Wrestling Olympic team recipients of the 2024 Courage Award for their performances in Paris. The Afsoon Courage Award honors Afsoon Roshanzamir Johnston and celebrates athletes who must use immense personal courage to be able to participate or compete in sports, who stand up for what is right and do what is right rather than what is easy.

The 2024 Olympic squad will be presented the award at WLAG’s Glitter Into Gold Gala on October 18 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.

“I am thrilled to celebrate the 2024 USA Women’s Olympic Wrestling Team as the recipients of this year’s Afsoon Courage award. We all saw these six individuals who embody the spirit of courage, display their bravery and strength in the face of adversity on the international stage. I am proud of these women and with profound admiration applaud the inspiring example they have set for all of us and the future generations to come,” says Afsoon Roshanzamir Johnston.

The 2024 Olympic Women’s Freestyle Team includes:

• Two-time Olympian and Paris Gold and Tokyo Bronze Medalist, Sarah Hildebrandt.
• First-time Olympian Dominique Parrish.
• Three-time Olympic Medalist (2016, 2020, and 2024) Helen Maroulis, whose Paris bronze solidified her place in history as the most decorated Olympic female wrestler in the United States. Maroulis is also a member of the WLAG Board of Trustees.
• Two-time (2020 and 2024) Olympian Kayla Miracle.
• First-time Olympian and gold medalist, Amit Elor. Her win makes her the youngest American to win Olympic wrestling gold.
• Paris Silver Medalist, Kennedy Blades.

“The Paris Olympics marked a significant moment for women's wrestling. On the global stage, women showed the world what happens when they are provided support, access, and opportunities. The performances this team displayed in these Games have etched their names in history, not just for the records they broke, but for the spirit, determination, and unity they displayed on the world stage,” said Sally Roberts, WLAG co-founder and CEO. “Their achievements will inspire generations of female wrestlers to come, reminding all of us of the power of perseverance and the pursuit of excellence. On behalf of myself, our Board of Trustees, and entire WLAG organization, we applaud them for their efforts and for continuously pushing and setting the boundaries for female athletes in the sport of wrestling.”

In addition to the Courage Award, WLAG will present its esteemed Betty Award to Co-founder of Female Elite Wrestling, Dr. Charlotte Bailey for her advocacy of women’s wrestling through philanthropy and volunteerism, and Adrienne Arsht Leadership Award.

To purchase individual tickets or a table, please visit:  Wrestle Like A Girl Gala 2024

The Glitter Into Gold Gala celebrates the advancements of women's wrestling through WLAG programs and gathers and honors influential community leaders and businesses for their continued support and advocacy. This year’s theme ‘Champions of Change’ will celebrate recent landmark achievements including:

• Women’s wrestling is being recommended for NCAA Championship Status by 2026.
• Five more states have sanctioned girls’ high school wrestling—the most recent being Indiana—making it 46 states that now recognize girls' high school wrestling as an official sport.
• Powerful diplomatic sports collaborations with Azerbaijan, Canada, Jordan, and USA wrestling federations.

About Wrestle Like A Girl

Wrestle Like A Girl, a 501(c)3 founded in 2016, is led by Team USA bronze medalist, Sally Roberts, with a mission to empower girls and women using the sport of wrestling to become leaders in life. Through Advocacy and Education, Programs, and Research, WLAG leads and supports policies that champion the inclusion of girls and women in wrestling, advocates for a healthier wrestling culture, and leads projects that reduce barriers to entry while increasing opportunities. Learn more at www.wrestlelikeagirl.org or follow @wrestlelikeagirl_ on Instagram and @WrstleLikeAGirl on X (Twitter).