The 57 kg finals at the U.S. Olympic Trials in State College, Pennsylvania this weekend were an all-Hawkeye affair, giving Iowa an excellent shot at having a representative at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France later this summer. Program legend Spencer Lee, a three-time NCAA champion during his time in Iowa City, stormed through the 57 kg bracket at the Trials, culminating in beating Thomas Gilman, another former Hawkeye, in consecutive matches in the best-of-three finals.
Lee beat Gilman 6-3 in the first match of the final session, then followed that up with a win by pin in the second match of the finals.
The wins mean that Lee has qualified as the United States representative at 57 kg in men's freestyle in the Paris games later this year. There is a catch, though -- while Lee has secured his spot as the U.S. representative at 57 kg, the weight itself has not yet been qualified by the U.S. for the Olympics.
Countries qualify for a spot at the Olympics based on results in events leading up to the current year's Olympic Games; the U.S. wrestlers at 57 kg have not done well enough to qualify the 57 kg spot to date. Lee will have a chance to do so at the World Olympic Qualifier in Istanbul, Turkey on May 11-12.
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Lee beat Gilman 6-3 in the first match of the final session, then followed that up with a win by pin in the second match of the finals.
The wins mean that Lee has qualified as the United States representative at 57 kg in men's freestyle in the Paris games later this year. There is a catch, though -- while Lee has secured his spot as the U.S. representative at 57 kg, the weight itself has not yet been qualified by the U.S. for the Olympics.
Countries qualify for a spot at the Olympics based on results in events leading up to the current year's Olympic Games; the U.S. wrestlers at 57 kg have not done well enough to qualify the 57 kg spot to date. Lee will have a chance to do so at the World Olympic Qualifier in Istanbul, Turkey on May 11-12.
MORE HERE:
Go Iowa Awesome - Spencer Lee Wins 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials
The 57 kg finals at the U.S. Olympic Trials in State College, Pennsylvania this weekend were an all-Hawkeye affair,
iowa.rivals.com
