Fresh off a Winter Olympics breakthrough, Laila Edwards has boldly crowned herself the top athlete from Cleveland Heights – a claim that even Jason and Travis Kelce appeared happy to applaud rather than challenge.

The 22-year-old forward made history at the 2026 Winter Games by becoming the first Black woman to win Olympic gold in ice hockey for the United States, a milestone that amplified her playful declaration.

And during an appearance on Kylie Kelce‘s podcast, Edwards leaned into the moment with humor, introducing herself with a confident line that immediately caught listeners’ attention across the sports world.

“Hi, I’m Laila Edwards – not gonna lie, I’m the best athlete to come out of Cleveland Heights,” Edwards said, to which Jason, listening just off camera, responded without hesitation: “No objection!”

The Philadelphia Eagles legend signaling clear admiration rather than rivalry despite his own decorated NFL career and deep ties to the same Ohio suburb.

That’s despite Jason anchoring the Eagles‘ ffensive line for over a decade, earning multiple First-Team All-Pro honors and seven Pro Bowl selections as he helped deliver the Super Bowl LII victory over the Patriots.

Whilst Travis revolutionized the tight end position with the Kansas City Chiefs, becoming an elite receiver and multiple-time All-Pro and perennial Pro Bowler – as well as winning three Super Bowl rings.

So Cleveland Heights, a community of roughly 45,000 residents, has produced multiple elite competitors, yet Edwards‘ Olympic triumph places her among the most decorated figures ever to emerge from the area.

Jason and Kylie were later spotted in the arena during a semifinal matchup, cheering as Edwards and Team USA advanced, showing their continued support.

The Kelce brothers show humility and respect to Laila Edwards

Long before her Olympic gold, Edwards had already drawn praise from the Kelce brothers, especially after becoming the first Black woman selected to the U.S. national ice hockey team in 2023.

On their podcast, the siblings publicly celebrated her achievement, highlighting the significance of representation in a sport historically lacking diversity at the highest level.

Touched by the recognition, Edwards sent a thank-you message on social media, assuming it might go unnoticed, yet the interaction quickly turned into a genuine exchange.

“I thought, ‘I’ll just message them, thanking them, they’ll never see it,'” Edwards said. “And then Travis and I had a full conversation over DM, and that was super cool…

“He was a really down-to-earth, humble guy who was super supportive and had really good things to say.”

When Edwards later secured her Olympic roster spot, the brothers again voiced enthusiasm, reinforcing a sense of shared hometown identity that extended beyond sports.

Her family also faced steep travel costs to attend the Games, prompting a fundraising effort to cover expenses such as flights and accommodations during the international tournament.

The Kelces quietly contributed, ensuring relatives could witness the historic debut in person, a gesture Edwards described as evidence of their character off the field.

“So I mean, those are just really good guys,” Edwards said. “They’re really good people, too, outside of their athletic abilities.”