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Could Be Most-Decorated U.S. Olympic Wrestler Jordan Burroughs began wrestling at age five, about the same time when elementary kids begin tussling on the playground at school. He took up the sport after watching his television heroes Ultimate Warrior and “Macho Man” Randy Savage, who were entertainment wrestlers. Burroughs became a state champion as a high school wrestler in New Jersey before going west to wrestle at the University of Nebraska, where he won two national titles. In college, he was awarded the Dan Hodge Trophy, which is given to the nation’s top collegiate wrestler. Burroughs entered the freestyle wrestling arena after college and immediately started winning. He qualified for the 2012 London Games and eventually defeated Iran’s Sadegh Goudarzi to win an Olympic gold medal.

Prior to London, Burroughs had won the 2011 World Championship, a feat he accomplished again in 2013. Burroughs went on to win 69 consecutive matches, which set an American record, before he was denied another world title in 2014. He finished third at the 2014 World Championships but came back to win the world title in 2015.

The Summer Olympics: Athletes to Watch

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