At the 2024 Olympics, the U.S. men’s freestyle wrestling team had high hopes but faced a disappointing outcome. Kyle Snyder, the 2016 Olympic champion, was America’s final contender for a gold medal. However, he was defeated by Akhmed Tazhudinov in the semifinals in the 97kg category. This event marked the first time in 56 years that the U.S. men’s freestyle wrestling team did not secure a gold medal.
Despite fielding a strong team with several world champions and top-ranked athletes, the American squad encountered challenges right from the beginning. Wrestlers like Mason Parris, Zain Retherford, Spencer Lee, Aaron Brooks, and Kyle Dake all suffered unexpected defeats. While some team members might still have a shot at clinching the bronze, the U.S. team fell short of the anticipated multiple gold medals following their success in the 2020 Olympics.
