FEATURE: Katie Downing’s long road to success
Josi Carlson/USA Wrestling
Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) says she is not a spectacular athlete.
But the 24-year old is currently the No.1-ranked U.S. women’s freestyle wrestler at 67kg/147.5 lbs.
Downing credits her success to a long dedication to her sport, not to an incredible athletic prowess.
“I’m a long-term worker,” Downing said. “It takes a lot of investment. If you’re just in it for the bonuses, you’re going to be disappointed.”
Downing started wrestling in 1994 as the only girl on the boy’s wrestling team at her high school in Pendleton, Ind. As a senior she was the USGWA High School Nationals champion. She went on to compete for four years at the University of Minnesota-Morris.
Despite her unwavering commitment to wrestling, Downing has seen her shares of ups-and-downs. In three years at the non-Olympic 147-pound weight class, she has been the 2001 World Cup Champion and was the 2003 U.S. Nationals champion. But trips to the major international tournaments have eluded her.
In 2002 and 2003, Downing won the World Team Trials at 147 pounds. But based on USA Wrestling rules, World Team Trials champions at the three non-Olympic weights (51 kg/112.25 lbs., 59kg/130 lbs., 67 kg/147.5 lbs) are subject to a Special Wrestle-off for the U.S. World Team from a medalist at an Olympic weight class.
Kristie Marano (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) was the runner-up at the World Team Trials at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and moved up in weight to face Downing for a trip to the World Championships.
In 2002, Marano defeated Downing in two matches, 5-4 and 12-2, and went on to win a bronze medal at the World Championships. In 2003, Marano once again dominated in two matches, 4-0 and 5-3, and went on to become the 2003 World Champion.
Only four weight classes were competed in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, in the first appearance of women’s wrestling. Downing moved up to the 158-pound weight class for the 2004 season in an attempt to make the trek to Athens.
Downing earned a trip to the U.S. Olympic Trials in May 2004 by winning the bronze medal at the U.S. Nationals at 158 pounds. But in the semi-finals, Downing’s bid was once-again stopped by Marano.
But to Downing, each match lost and won, is just another bump on the long road to success and every one is a learning experience.
“I never expect to get results right away,” Downing said. “I really enjoy the process.”
For now, the process for Downing means doing what she can to maintain her top spot in her weight class.
“I’m really just trying to establish myself at 147,” Downing said. “I feel so much better at this weight and now I can really concentrate on the things I want to work on.”
As a resident athlete at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., Downing is able to spend most of her time honing her skills. For a woman who started as the only girl on the mats, her current position sometimes seems unreal.
“I live in a situation where women’s wrestling is life,” Downing said. “That says a lot about how far the sport has come. Being here I sometimes forget that other people don’t know about women’s wrestling.”
In an effort to share her knowledge and excitement about her sport, Downing has been writing her own column on the Texas”“USA Wrestling web site. “Down With Downing” features workout recommendations and descriptions, advice for wrestler’s male and female, opportunities for female wrestlers and some of Downing’s personal experiences.
In “Realize That You Represent,” Downing urges women to take their role as a female wrestler seriously.
“If there are many people who do not know about wrestling, there are even more who know nothing of women’s wrestling,” Downing says in her article. “In many places, the only thing a community knows of women’s wrestling is through one person. If you are a woman wrestler, you may represent all of women’s wrestling for thousands of people who will never know any other female wrestler.”
For Downing, a history major in college, the articles are a chance to write for fun and maybe help someone who is going through some of the same challenges she has faced in her career.
“It gives me a chance to look back on everything I’ve gone through,” Downing said. “I did high school wrestling, college, now I’m at the National level. I’ve had two shoulder surgeries. I know what frustrated me and I know what helped me; maybe I can help someone else.”
Not only does Downing want to assist individual female wrestlers in pursuing their dreams, she would like to see the sport itself continue to gain popularity. Eventually she would like to coach a women’s program herself and believes that collegiate female wrestling will only get bigger in the next few years.
“The more competitive the college-level gets, the more exciting it gets,” Downing said. “The possibilities are all there for a big improvement by 2008.”
In the meantime for her own career, Downing will be competing in the Klippan Ladies Open in Sweden and the Trophe Milone in Italy in March. She hopes to make her first appearance on the U.S. World Team at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
“She’s probably more determined than I’ve seen her in a long time,” said Terry Steiner, National Women’s Team coach. “She’s done well internationally; we just need to get her in the World tournament. She’s in the No. 1 spot and I don’t see her losing it.”
Not too bad for a woman who isn’t a spectacular athlete.
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