US Olympian Steveson chases gold, pro wrestling dreams
ST. LOUIS, July 17, (AP): Gable Steveson loves to put on a show -- during and after his biggest matches.
Moments after he won at the U.S. Olympic trials at 125 kilograms to qualify for the Tokyo Games, he was taking down the strap on his singlet when he heard the crowd chanting. “Backflip! Backflip!” Steveson had celebrated wins with backflips before -- quite a feat for a man who weighs about 275 pounds. And though he was drained after qualifying for his first Olympics, he couldn’t help himself. The man who aspires to be a World Wrestling Entertainment superstar like his mentor, Brock Lesnar, had to deliver.
Steveson, 21, hopes to transfer that swagger into becoming one of wrestling’s youngest U.S. Olympic gold medalists. He wants that stage to help launch a career in WWE. Eventually, he hopes to cross over into movies like former WWE star Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.
Steveson’s stardom was seemingly planned. His mother named him Gable Dan -- after wrestling icon Dan Gable. Gable was a two-time national champion wrestler at Iowa State and an Olympic gold medalist in 1972.
Steveson, who is from Apple Valley, Minnesota, said Gable’s name was known around the area.
Steveson has handled the pressure that comes with having that name in the sport. He followed in Lesnar’s footsteps by winning a national championship as a heavyweight for the University of Minnesota. He was the Dan Hodge Trophy winner as the nation’s best college wrestler after a 17-0 season. Then he won the Olympic trials. Now, he could add to his resume in Tokyo.
But for all the showmanship, Steveson is most special on the mat. He has the expected power of a big man, but possesses unusual quickness and agility for a someone his size, allowing him to wrestle differently than most of his opponents.
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Brazil’s Olympic Committee said Friday that heavyweight weightlifter Fernando Reis has been suspended for doping and will not compete at the Tokyo Olympics. He was one of the favorites for a medal in the 105-kilogram category.
The committee said in a statement that 31-year-old Reis did not travel as expected last week after testing positive for a growth hormone.
“The athlete is excluded of the delegation that will compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games,” the Brazilian committee said. “We reinforce our commitment with clean sports as we keep several educational initiatives to fight against doping.”