Olympics

Six of the nine 2020 Olympic wrestling medalists receive Living the Dream Medal Fund bonuses in private New York ceremony

USA Wrestling and the Stewards of the Living the Dream Medal Fund hosted a special function Thursday night at a private residence in New York City, paying out the first bonuses to the 2020 U.S. Olympic wrestling medalists. Six of the nine Olympic medalist wrestlers received oversized checks as part of the ceremony.

The record $950,000 overall payout is based upon the historic performance of the U.S. Olympic wrestling team at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, where the USA came home with three gold medals, two silver medals, and four bronze medals. The previous record payout during an Olympic year came in 2016 when the fund paid out $600,000 to wrestling medalists from the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.

The funding for the program comes from a group of individual donors who are called Stewards, along with support from USA Wrestling and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

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Gold medalist Steveson having fun as he considers next move

Even an Olympic gold medalist has limits.

American wrestler Gable Steveson has been on the go since his dramatic last-second victory in the freestyle heavyweight final put him at the top of the podium in Tokyo. He blew the Gjallarhorn at a Minnesota Vikings preseason game, attended a Bellator MMA event and showed up at World Wrestling Entertainment’s SummerSlam, stepping into the ring to celebrate bringing home the gold in front of more than 50,000 adoring fans.

He’s living it up as he contemplates his next move.

“It’s very new and something different that I haven’t experienced, but I think I’m taking it very well and I’m staying the course how I should be,” he said.

Even for a 21-year-old who seemingly has the world by the tail, being Gable Steveson can be overwhelming. Reality hit when he became so busy that he opted out of the World Championships in Oslo. Continue reading at apnews.com →

Since winning gold, Gable Steveson has been everywhere, which is exactly how he wants it

Steveson says he’ll decide his immediate path in the next few weeks. But whether he returns to school or not, he’s got big plans to

MINNEAPOLIS — Since winning his gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2 weeks ago, Gopher Wrestler Gable Steveson has been pulled in a lot of directions.

“Got home, interviews, interviews, interviews. Next day, interviews, interviews, interviews,” Steveson said.

But this is no sob story, because Steveson is in his glory.

“Yeah I am enjoying it, why wouldn’t I,” he said. Watch/continue reading at kare11.com →

After Olympic wrestling gold, Gable Steveson pursued by Minnesota Golden Gophers football, UFC, WWE

Gable Steveson’s life changed in a matter of seconds – 6.5 to be exact.

That’s the amount of time it took for Steveson to score another takedown of Geno Petriashvili for gold at the Tokyo Olympics in the men’s 125kg freestyle category.

The gold secured for Steveson an automatic bid to the 2021 World Championships, a spot he rejected formally Sunday night. Now that he’s reached the pinnacle on the mat, Steveson, 21, might seek glory in a different avenue.

“I’ve reached the point, that pinnacle of wrestling … I’m trying to make noise. I’m trying to impact people,” Steveson told USA TODAY Sports on Friday. “I’m trying to (show) the world that you can be a wrestler and you can make it out and do it big, just like how I’m trying to do it. It’s most definitely an influential thing for me to do this for kids like me out there that maybe didn’t grow up with much that can see that they can end up with a lot.” Continue reading at usatoday.com →

Gophers wrestler Gable Steveson returns with giant smile, Olympic gold to celebratory crowd at MSP airport

Steveson touched down in the Twin Cities late Sunday with a giant smile on his face and a shiny gold medal around his neck.

Gophers wrestler Gable Steveson touched down in the Twin Cities from the Tokyo Olympics late Sunday with a giant smile on his face and a shiny gold medal around his neck as he raised his arms to a gathered crowd chanting: “USA! USA! USA!”

Steveson, 21, was celebrated for his improbable trouncing of the competition, culminating in a comeback that saw him get two takedowns in 13 seconds against the three-time world champion Geno Petriashvili for gold in the freestyle heavyweight final.

Before stepping into the enthusiastic crowd at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Steveson reunited privately with his parents, Robert and Laticia Steveson, and older brother, Bobby, whom he hadn’t seen since July 17. Then he turned his attention to the crowd that was chanting “Gable, Gable, Gable” as he walked through the electronic doors. Continue reading at startribune.com →

Gophers Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson returns to Minnesota

Apple Valley’s Gable Steveson returned home Sunday night after becoming the first Gopher wrestler in program history to win an Olympic gold medal.

Steveson, who beat Georgia’s Geno Petriashvili 10-8 in the men’s freestyle 125-kilogram championship match, heard fans chanting “USA, USA!” when he arrived at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Sunday night.

“We just wanted to come out and see Gable,” Conner Ellis of Savage said. “What an incredible achievement.”

“I put on my best effort for the great state of Minnesota,” Steveson said upon arrival, “There’s so many people who’ve supported me – so many fans.” Watch/continue reading at kstp.com →

Welcome Home Gable Steveson

Olympic gold medalist and Minnesota heavyweight Gable Steveson is set to return home on Sunday, Aug. 8, at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport at approximately 9:25 p.m

Fans may arrive at the Terminal 1 baggage claim area at 9:15 p.m to await Steveson’s return. Please be aware that MSP requires facial coverings inside all airport buildings.

Also, mark your calendar for Monday Evening, August 16th, for a Gold Medal Celebration for Gable!! More details to follow in the upcoming week.

American Gable Steveson wins wrestling gold medal in 125kg class at Tokyo Olympics

CHIBA, Japan — With 10 seconds remaining, Gable Steveson trailed the biggest wrestling match of his life by three points.

When the clock hit zero, he was an Olympic gold medalist.

Steveson trailed Georgia’s Geno Petriashvili 8-5 with time running out. The 21-year-old American remained composed and took control against his more experienced opponent, scoring on a spin-behind takedown with 10 seconds remaining and then another with less than a second remaining to win the men’s freestyle 125-kilogram class final 10-8 on Friday night.

Steveson held up two fingers for two points after the move, but even he couldn’t believe what happened.

“I looked at the clock and it was like 0.3,” Steveson said. “And I was like, ‘Ain’t no way.’ And my head just like flushed with everything. And I was like, ‘Wow.'” Continue reading at www.espn.com →