USA Summer Olympic Wrestling

With the crazy year it has been, there are even crazier things happening in the wrestling world. Since the Summer Olympics were canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they will be taking place this year in Tokyo!

The Summer Olympics bring us many great sports. These include basketball, swimming, track and field, as well as many other great sports. But one sport that often flies under the radar is wrestling. 

Wrestling is one of the world’s oldest sports, more specifically freestyle wrestling, which is what is done at the Olympic level. Freestyle wrestling dates all the way back to 1904, and has given us some of the greatest athletes we have ever seen. 

Wrestlers like John Smith, Dan Gable, and Kurt Angle have all won gold at the Olympics. And they have all come out of the United States. So who has the best shot this year at taking home gold? Let’s look at some of the team this year. 

Kyle Snyder

Snyder has already reached the pinnacle of Olympic wrestling, but he is here to do it once again. Snyder is the youngest wrestler in American history to win gold at the Olympics.

Snyder did this at 20 years old, beating Henry Cejudo’s record. Snyder qualified for the Olympics a few months ago, and he did so in an easy manner. 

Snyder is looking to get another gold medal, and is the overwhelming favorite to win gold at the 97 kg weight class

Kyle Dake

Perhaps the most surprising olympian this year, Kyle Dake will represent the United States at 74 kg. 

At the Olympic Trials, Kyle Dake defeated Jordan Burroughs. For those who don’t know, Jordan Burroughs has been the face of USA Wrestling for a decade. 

Burroughs was a gold medalist in the 2012 Olympics and has represented the United States in the Olympics for the last 10 years. The United States team won’t be the same without him. 

Kyle Dake will do work at the Olympics this year. He did beat an older Jordan Burroughs to get there. However, Burroughs is still regarded as “the king” of wrestling and beating him is no small accomplishment. 

Gable Steveson

Gable Steveson could have had the chance to do what Kyle Snyder did, but his birthday is before the Olympics. 

Steveson is 20 years old, and will be 21 during the Olympics. However, he still is the youngest member of the freestyle team this year. 

Gable is already an accomplished wrestler, winning a National Championship this past season. He could win the Olympics at his weight. He is young and still has time to learn and improve, but he still has a great chance to win it. 

Steveson competes at 125 kg, the heaviest weight class. Yet, Steveson is still able to move like a lightweight. This makes him a dangerous opponent for whoever he faces. His lightweight speed and heavyweight strength make him a force to be reckoned with!