Gable Steveson is aware of you possibly can’t win all of them.
The Olympic gold medal wrestler, who suffered a shocking upset loss on the 2025 NCAA Division I Wrestling Nationwide Championships on Saturday, isn’t getting too mired in defeat as a result of that’s simply how the game goes generally. Closely favored to win his third Nationwide Title for the College of Minnesota, Steveson gave up a late takedown to Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson that ended their match in a 5-4 rating.
It was the primary takedown Steveson had surrendered all season lengthy.
“First, Thanks Gopher Wrestling,” Steveson wrote on Instagram. “From a 18 12 months outdated child to now 24 years outdated (Or 30 years outdated as some would say lol) Once I left in 2022 there was all the time this itch to offer y’all one final go round and I’m glad I might come again and provides the College the sunshine that it deserves! We had a generational run and I don’t remorse my choice to remain at dwelling to placed on for the town repeatedly!
“Bumps within the highway gone occur, that’s what makes sports activities so loopy! However we dwell for moments like these and I’m simply tremendous!! In the long run Wins and Losses won’t ever outline what I attempted to do for the game of wrestling.. The attraction, viewership, and showmanship all the time meant essentially the most to me after I stepped out on the mat. To offer it the sunshine it deserves.”
Steveson returned to varsity for his remaining 12 months of eligibility after he gained his Olympic gold medal in the course of the 2020 video games after which signed a profitable contract to hitch the WWE.
Sadly, skilled wrestling didn’t work out for Steveson as he was finally launched from his contract and he then took a stab at soccer regardless of by no means really taking part in the sport earlier than. He inked a deal to hitch the Buffalo Payments and took part in the course of the 2024 coaching camp however Steveson didn’t make the ultimate lower.
Whereas he did obtain curiosity in doubtlessly becoming a member of the observe squad, Steveson finally determined to return to varsity to wrestle for Minnesota one final time.
He went undefeated by means of the season and captured one other Massive 10 title earlier than making a dominant run by means of the NCAA event till he bumped into Hendrickson, a lieutenant within the Air Drive who transferred to Oklahoma State for his remaining 12 months of eligibility that wasn’t obtainable to service academy scholar athletes.
“To my supporters I admire all of the love by means of my time in collegiate wrestling,” Steveson stated. “From skipping warmups to staying late after each twin regardless the town to speak to everybody undoubtedly made it well worth the time!
“To all of the doubters, and naysayers that I had this 12 months.. No matter the way you felt… YOU STILL WATCHED and I thanks for that too.”
Steveson didn’t straight deal with his future however he beforehand informed MMA Combating that he deliberate to pursue a second gold medal with the Olympics touchdown in Los Angeles in 2028. He skipped out on the 2024 video games whereas he was signed with WWE and the USA males’s freestyle crew ended up not capturing a single gold medal for the primary time in 56 years.
On prime of his plans to return to wrestling, Steveson has brazenly mentioned plans to finally transition to MMA as properly, particularly after forming a bond with UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones after working collectively throughout his coaching camp to arrange for a combat in opposition to Stipe Miocic this previous November.
