?He?s a Legend to Me?: Olympic Gold Medalist Gable Steveson Reveals His Main Inspiration Behind Tokyo Olympics 2020 Success

In terms of wrestling, no other nation comes close to the USA and Russia for the talent they produce. Likewise, this year’s Olympics provided a new star in Gable Steveson. The American wrestler won the gold medal at Tokyo Olympics 2020 under the men’s 125kg category. After a thrilling bout, the wrestler came back from an 8-7 deficit and won the match with 0.7 seconds to go. A truly inspiring victory from one of the most talented wrestlers of his generation.

Gable revealed his inspiration in a recent interview with FanSided. The American spoke about the 2012 Olympic gold medalist, Jordan Burroughs, who goaded him to become a wrestling superstar.

Gable Steveson on being inspired by Jordan Burroughs

Despite the difference in weight divisions, Gable threw the limelight on Jordan being one of the best wrestlers from America. The 2020 Olympic champion revealed what Jordan meant for him during his career.

“It feels amazing. I mean I describe it as like, not many kids get to go to the Olympics so for me to go over there at the age I am and bring home a gold medal is most definitely going to influence the younger kids.

“Wrestling-wise I looked up to a man named Jordan Burroughs, he was like a champion in 2012. He?s a legend to me, legend to us. He?s most definitely influenced my way to get here so yeah, so most definitely him,” said Gable.

Burroughs is still competing at 33 years of age while Gable has become the new potential superstar in wrestling. The backflips he does are more than enough to cement his legacy amongst the greats. But to every athlete, there is a backside story. And Burroughs is Gable’s, go-to man.

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Why is Jordan Burroughs great?

A name that speaks volumes in the US wrestling scenario, Jordan Burroughs, is a bonafide legend. He was a gold medalist in the 2012 London Olympics, a four-time World champion while also being a three-time gold medalist at Pan American Games. Known for his double leg takedown, the sheer sight of Burrows on the mat sent shivers down the spine.

Significantly, he was known for his antics in the 2013 World Championships, where he won the whole tournament despite breaking his ankle a month before it. At a time when mental health issues for athletes are being prioritized, the wrestler trained his mind to develop the knack of reducing the impact of knocks being delivered on him.

A wrestler whose flair level was right on top, Burroughs’ antics are famous while becoming a role model for many wrestlers, including Gable.

The recent Olympic games saw a lot of superstars being created. Lydia Jacoby is a 17-year-old swimmer who stole the show in Tokyo. Likewise, Gable Steveson etched his way into the history books for a talent who is on the rise and hopefully gets his second gold medal at Paris 2024.

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