2016 U.S. OLYMPIAN - 74 kg FS Burroughs seeks second Olympic gold by Gary Abbott
Ever since he won the gold medal at 74 kg at the Olympic Games in London, England in 2012, Jordan Burroughs has focused on an opportunity to return to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to seek a second Olympic title. Winning just one Olympic gold medal has never been enough in his mind.
Burroughs has always been keenly aware of his legacy in the sport, and has not been shy in telling people that he would like to become the greatest American wrestler of all time. To do that, Burroughs still has some work to do. Coming into the 2016 U.S. Olympic
Team Trials, he has already established himself as one of the all-time greats. Burroughs has won three World gold medals (2011, 2013, 2015) to go with that Olympic gold medal. In 2014, when he injured his leg in his first bout, he won a World bronze medal. Coming into the Olympic Trials in Iowa City, Iowa, Burroughs had an amazing 122-2 record for a remarkable 98.39% winning per- centage. A lot has changed in Burroughs life since his big win in London. He got mar- ried to Lauren Mariacher, who came from a New York wrestling family. They had their first son Beacon, and now Lauren is pregnant with their second child who is due this summer prior to the Olympic Games.
“It has changed everything, but it has also changed nothing. The approach has always been to be the best, one of the best ever. That has always been the ulti- mate goal as an athlete. My wife under- stands that. She knew that when we were courting each other, when we were engaged, and when we were married. I am a competitor and she grew up in a wrestling family. Her dad was a high school wrestling coach and her brothers wrestled as well so she understands the sport. She knew what she was getting into,” said Burroughs. Only three American wrestlers have ever won two Olympic gold medals. The first was turn-of-the century star George Mehnert, winner at the 1904 and 1908 Olympics. John Smith won World gold medals in 1988 and 1992, while Bruce Baumgartner won his pair in 1984 and 1992. To get that opportunity, Burroughs had to win the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in
Jordan Burroughs takes down Andrew Howe in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials championship series at 74 kg and earns his second trip to the Olympic Games. Photo by John Sachs.
Iowa City. As a World champion in 2015, Burroughs earned the right to move directly into the best-of-three finals series, and wait to see who emerged from the Challenge Tournament.
His top two rivals in 2015 moved up in weight this year to test themselves at 86 kg, No. 2 Kyle Dake and No. 3 David Taylor. When the dust settled from the Challenge Tournament at his weight class, his Championship Series opponent was the same man he beat in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials finals, Andrew Howe. To reach Burroughs, Howe had to defeat 19-year-old phenom Mark Hall, three-time NCAA champion Alex Dieringer and 2014 World Team member Nick Marable, the only American to have a win over Burroughs.
Burroughs took control in the opening match, with a counter takedown and two ankle-laces for a 6-0 lead. He kept up the pressure and cruised to a 9-3 win. The second match was even more dominant, with a takedown and four ankle-laces for a technical fall. There will be a return trip for Burroughs to the Olympic Games. “It was a very exciting moment. You spent so much time and energy invested in that one opportunity. It has been a lot of training, a lot of sacrifice and commit- ment. It has been exciting, but also with a lot of nervousness and fear. To overcome it all, and to have your hand raised the second time in a best-of-three series is
an amazing feeling,” said Burroughs. This time around, Burroughs will have a family alongside him as he attempts to defend his Olympic title. He quickly praised wife Lauren after his finals series ended.
“She is awesome. She actually wrote me a letter before this match tonight telling me I was destined for great things. At the same time, it’s been difficult. It’s difficult being a dad, being a husband and trying to be the best wrestler in the world, all three at the same time. I understand how awesome it is when you can do all three of them. I really want to be a living representation to all the fathers through- out the country. You can still be amazing in your particular field and be a career driven man, but still be a great husband and a great father,” he said. And how does he stack up now, in
comparison to his Olympic gold medal effort in London.
“I feel like I am so much better. You know what is funny is a reporter asked me, ‘Do you think you can replicate what you did in London in 2012?’ I was so young and so fresh to the sport. I had no idea what I was doing. Now I feel so much better and mentally tougher. My skill sets are significantly better. I feel stronger and more mentally developed as a man and I have a great team of people around me,” he said.
USA Wrestler 7
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44