Long before Sydney Sweeney became a household name through her breakout role as Cassie in HBO’s “Euphoria,” she was channeling her competitive spirit into a very different arena – the wrestling mat. In a recent interview with W Magazine, the actress revealed her extensive athletic background including her unexpected journey into grappling that began during her teenage years.
“My mom told me from a very young age to fall in love with as many things as possible. And so I did,” Sweeney explained.
This mindset led to a long list of athletic pursuits that later became valuable in her acting career. Growing up she trained in skiing, wakeboarding, soccer and softball. But it was her parents’ decision to introduce her to grappling and kickboxing that had the most lasting impact.
“My parents also got me into grappling and kickboxing. Grappling is like wrestling,” Sweeney shared.
She trained at a dojo called Gokore Highest from age 13 until she was about 18 or 19. She was the only girl at the gym.
“I was the only girl at the dojo,” she recalled, highlighting the unique challenge she faced in a male-dominated sport.
Even though she was outnumbered, Sweeney thrived in the competitive setting.
“I had a few grappling tournaments, which were a lot of fun. I have a few ribbons. I fought all guys,” she proudly stated.
“So, you could kill someone. If they kidnap you, they’re in trouble.”
Her wide-ranging athletic background helped when she began looking for roles that would showcase her physical ability.
“I had been searching for a character that would enable me to use this athletic version of myself,” she explained,
referring to her preparation for portraying boxer Christy Martin in an upcoming biopic.
