Mensah-Stock Claims Gold In Tokyo, Will Buy Mom A Food Truck

TOKYO — Katy native Tamyra Mensah-Stock made history at the Tokyo Olympics and shortly after inspired American audiences with her positive personality.

Mensah-Stock won the gold medal in women's 68kg freestyle wrestling Tuesday, beating Nigeria's Blessing Oborududu 4-1 in the final. She is the second U.S. woman to win a gold medal in wrestling at the Olympics, and the first Black woman from the U.S. to accomplish the feat.

Mensah-Stock began wrestling as a 10th grader at Katy Morton Ranch and won back-to-back UIL state championships as a junior and senior. Even then, she was confident in her potential for greatness.

"I knew I could do it when I first started wrestling," Mensah-Stock said in her post-match interview on NBC. "I felt I could be an Olympic champ, so I kept going. I did it."

During the interview, Mensah-Stock jumped around with a wide smile and sang a few bars from Carrie Underwood's 2018 hit "The Champion."

"I love representing the U.S. I freaking love living there," Mensah-Stock said in the interview. "I love it, and I'm so happy I get to represent USA!"

A video of the interview posted to the NBC Olympics YouTube channel Wednesday already has over 115,000 views as of 6 p.m. Wednesday, and the footage was widely shared on Twitter.

In a post-match news conference, Mensah-Stock, who lost her father in a car accident while she was in high school, said she planned on using her winnings to help her mother buy a food truck, which she estimates will cost roughly $30,000.

"It's her dream," Mensah-Stock said. "I told her five years ago, 'Alright, I'll get you a food truck, but you've got to be responsible,' and she's like 'Yes. Thank you, baby!' So my mom's getting a food truck. She can cook really, really well."

What kind of food will her mother cook?

"Barbecue!" Mensah-Stock answered.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.