(L-R) Jordan Burroughs and Chance Marstellar compete during their men's freestyle 79 kg. bout at the 2022 Beat the Streets Wrestling Benefit on June 8, 2022 in New York City.
A little over 10 years ago, Jordan Burroughs reached a place that few athletes ever do — atop the podium with an Olympic gold medal dangling around his neck.
Burroughs was a wide-eyed 24-year-old freestyle wrestler with his whole career ahead of him in the Olympic Games London 2012. A decade later at age 34, Burroughs continues to go to the mat as a five-time world champion and father of four. Yet, he has never since returned to that Olympic podium.
“In this sport, the pinnacle is being an Olympic champion,” Burroughs told TeamUSA.org. “I’ve tried on multiple occasions since, and I haven’t been able to replicate that performance, although I feel like I’m a much better competitor and a better athlete.”
Burroughs made Team USA for Rio in 2016 but came home without a medal. He didn’t get to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 last year, though he won another world title a few months later.
“It’s kind of discouraging at the same time that it’s exciting because since jumping off of that podium 10 years ago, I’ve been trying to do it again,” Burroughs said. “It’s hard to replicate.
“I try to maintain perspective through it all, and I’ve done a lot of really cool stuff since then. That (Olympic) tournament just gave me recognition, but all of the things that I’ve done since then have kind of solidified me as a legend.”
That Olympic gold medal and those five world titles assure Burroughs of a place place among the greatest American freestyle wrestlers of all time. When he thinks back to the London experience, it’s what happened away from the mat that holds the most meaning for him.
“I remember just the excitement to be there,” Burroughs said. “There’s such a naivete and obliviousness to the accomplishment and what you’re on the brink of doing because you grew up watching the Olympics.
“Looking back, my best memories are the ones that had nothing to do with wrestling. It’s meeting all the other Olympians, walking out for the Opening (Ceremony).”
Burroughs entered his first Olympics as the favorite at 74 kg., having won his first world championship the previous year. He didn’t really feel the pressure of the moment.
“If you perform well, you can win this thing,” he said. “That’s a pretty special opportunity. There was a lot of freedom because … it was my first time.
“No one expected me to be a world champion. It was my first time on the team. I was new to the sport. I wasn’t really extremely heralded. It kind of blew the world away.”
