Wrestler Jordan Burroughs' quest for back-to-back golds thwarted in quarterfinals
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Jordan Burroughs’ quest for back-to-back gold medals in freestyle wrestling was thwarted in the quarterfinals.
Burroughs, the world’s No. 1-ranked wrestler in the 74 kg (163 lbs) division, was bested 3-2 by Russia’s Aniuar Geduev Friday morning at Carioca Arena. Burroughs had a 130-2 record in international competition entering the Games, but Geduev, the world’s No. 2 and a three-time European champion, jumped out to an early 3-0 lead and held on for the narrow victory despite a late charge from Burroughs.
The match was halted several times because of a cut on Burroughs’ forehead. The two also engaged in a brief shoving match early on, increasing the intensity of the match between the world’s top two wrestlers in their division. The two squared off in the quarterfinal based on the tournament’s random draw.
Burroughs, who hadn’t lost since September 2014, was devastated after the match.
An emotional Jordan Burroughs is consoled by Coach Mark Manning after Burroughs'… https://t.co/gRoRy6onWI pic.twitter.com/ud2m9PsUel
— Wayne Drehs (@espnWD) August 19, 2016
I can only describe the scene here at wrestling as funereal. Burroughs wept in his wife's arms. Pro-American crowd silent.
— Steve Politi (@StevePoliti) August 19, 2016
Because Geduev rallied to make it to the final later on Friday, Burroughs entered a consolation (repechage) bracket with the chance to wrestle for a bronze. However, with a spot in the bronze medal match on the line, Burroughs fell to Bekzod Abdurakhmanov of Uzbekistan, 11-1.
In addition to a spot atop the podium, Burroughs also lost out on the chance for a substantial financial gain. According to Sports Business Journal, a donor for USA Wrestling promised $500,000 to Burroughs if he repeated. USA Wrestling’s Living the Dream Medal Fund usually provides $250,000 to gold medal winners, but donor Mike Novogratz said he would double the prize money in 2016.
A favorite in the 74kg freestyle weight class, Burroughs has already received $415,000 from the governing body’s Living the Dream Medal Fund, founded by donors Mike Novogratz and Dave Barry in 2009 to combat the lure of professional MMA fighting.
The fund normally gives $250,000 for an Olympic gold, but at a party four months after London, Novogratz boasted he would double the prize for two-time winners.
“It was spur of the moment,” said Novogratz, a private investor who had been a principal at Fortress Investment Group until late 2015. “It was probably a little unfair to the rest of the stewards for me to go off half-cocked, but it was in line with what we were trying to accomplish.”
An American wrestler hasn’t won back-to-back golds since John Smith did so in 1988 and 1992 in the 62 kg division.
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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
