Our 2017 Outstanding American is Anthony N. "Buddy" Lee, known the world over as the Jump Rope King. He has promoted fitness and fun for decades with a unique and highly successful system of jump rope training. He is President and CEO of Jump Rope Tech Technology, Inc., where he invents and markets state-of-the-art ropes for every level from beginners to U. S. Olympians, along with videos, distilled from about 6,000 shows in some 50 countries, of some astonishingly rapid and skilled rope work. This world-wide fame and respect emerged from the sport of wrestling, begun in Virginia. Raised by his mother as one of six children in his home town of Richmond, Buddy began wrestling at Highland Springs HS for Coach Rudy Ward. He was the first AAA state champion for the Springers, and won a full scholarship to Old Dominion University. He flourished under Coach Billy Martin, Jr., twice winning All-American honors (fourth place and seventh place) before his graduation in 1982. Restlessly seeking excellence at the next level, Buddy became a U. S. Marine and a world-class wrestler, with dominant performances in Freestyle, Greco, and Sombo competition. He won the Armed Forces Freestyle World Championship in 1985 (among many tournament wins), settled for alternate status due to injury for the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and capped his career at Barcelona, where he finished sixth in Greco-Roman wrestling. He was chosen to be an Olympic Torch Bearer for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. These impressive accomplishments have only sharpened Buddy's desire to help others. A Marine Athlete of the Year, he tirelessly visits military posts to inspire our servicemen, and he has appeared in countless high school gyms to motivate the next generation. He recently partnered with Michelle Obama in her "Let's Get America Moving" initiative for youth, and has been selected to be Fitness Ambassador for organizations such as the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and the American Heart Association. He is taking his message to China, hoping to launch a jump-rope craze there, but when he comes home, he still goes to Richmond.