Lee Kemp

Lee Kemp, known as one of the greatest wrestlers in United States history, was a three-time Gold Medalist in the World Championships, a four-time Gold Medalist in the World Cup of Wrestling, a two-time Gold Medalist in the Pan American Games, a seven-time national champion.

In 1978 Lee was named the United States Wrestling Federation “Man of the Year” and received the AAU's "Sun Cup" as the most Outstanding Wrestler in the United States. In 1978 and 1979 was named "Athlete of the Year" by the AAU. He was inducted to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1989.

28 years after the 1980 Boycott of the Moscow Olympic Games where Lee was heavily favorited to win a Gold Medal, he got a chance to fulfill Olympic dreams by being selected to coach the 2008 Olympic Wrestling Team.

Lee Kemp is among seven American wrestling legends inducted into the United World Wrestling (UWW) International Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Lee Kemp was born and spent his early youth in Cleveland, Ohio and later moved to Chardon, a farming community 30 miles northeast of Cleveland, where he was a 2-time Ohio state champion finishing his junior and senior years with an undefeated record of 55-0-0, with 24 pins.

Lee was also a Junior National Champion prior to entering college by beating a future 3-Time NCAA Champion in the finals

Also prior to entering college, Lee was one of only four American wrestlers to win a match over a powerful Junior Russian Team, touting future Russian Legends Sergey and Anatoly Beloglazov, that toured the United States in 1974, competing in 8 duals (80 matches) nationwide wrestling some of the best in PA, OH, NY, CA, IL OR.

Kemp won three NCAA titles for the University of Wisconsin-Madison at 158 pounds, and placing 2nd as a true freshman, at 150 pounds, losing on a split referee’s decision in overtime. After his freshman year Lee Kemp did not lose another collegiate bout posting 108 victories and one draw against collegiate competition that included a win over the legendary Dan Gable.

Kemp earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1979, and an M.B.A. in 1983. Kemp was inducted into University of Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991.

Additionally, following his lifelong dedication to nutrition, health & wellness, Lee has earned a Nutritional Consultant Certification from the Global College of Natural Medicine in November 2009, and consults both athletes and non-athletes on diet, weight loss, nutrition and other health related issues and concerns.

Lee Kemp, is also the Founder of Hire The Winners, a hiring and recruiting company in the US and following his passion for health and nutrition was the co-founder of FORZA by Kemp, a nutritional company, to address the nutritional needs of wrestlers and athletes. For several years FORZA by Kemp was the official nutritional partner of USA Wrestling and its national teams. Lee continues his nutrition endeavors with partnering with several companies in the health and wellness nutritional space.

Lee Kemp has held marketing management positions for several New York fortune 500 companies including working for a major Chicago based Advertising Agency. Lee has owned and successfully operated a Ford automobile dealership for 14 years and is an accomplished keynote motivational speaker including working as a “color commentator” for ESPN and the Big Ten Network.

Lee Kemp continues to follow his love for wrestling, nutrition, health and wellness by coaching and mentoring wrestlers of all ages and skill levels at camps, clinics and competitions locally, nationally and internationally.

Lee has three adult children, Jordan and Mercedes both earning Bachelors Degrees from California State University Fullerton and Columbia College Chicago respectively and Adam currently a redshirt Sophomore Varsity Wrestler at Cal Poly.