Paris-bound 86 kg wrestler Aaron Brooks started wrestling when he was in high school. However, champions inspired Brooks to become an Olympian. Among them was Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs. The 36-year-old wrestler faced an unfortunate situation at Penn State after failing to qualify for the 2024 Olympics. However, it was during his London Olympics dream run that Burroughs became an icon for many, including Brooks.

The 24-year-old first witnessed Jordan Burroughs dominate the competition during the early 2010s. “Everyone in the country was following him,” said Brooks. However, not everyone was an aspiring wrestler with Olympic dreams. So, Brooks looked up to the wrestling icon.

“I watched him at Worlds and the next year at the Olympics… I was just like, ‘Yeah it was pretty cool.’ Someone that I definitely looked up to at that time,” Brooks said in a video on the USA Wrestling YouTube channel. The 74 kg wrestler dominated his weight class during the 2010s.

As Aaron Brooks came into his own throughout the 2010s, the Olympic gold medalist added to his legacy. The London 2012 champion won multiple golds at the World Championships, the Pan Am Games and Championships, NCAA Division I, and many more accolades. Maybe that’s why the disrespect at Penn State during the 2024 Olympic Trials, made the 36-year-old snap.

The Olympian was locked in a war of words with former Penn State star-turned-UFC prospect, Bo Nickal. Nickal didn’t agree with Burroughs being ok with wrestlers targeting Carter Starroci’s injured knee during the NCAA championships. So fans at Penn State booed the veteran wrestler when he walked onto the mat.

However, things escalated when Burroughs lost. “Career over!” screamed a fan as the Olympic medalist walked away, leading the 6x world champion to snap back at the fan. However, despite the unfortunate turn in his career, Burroughs has inspired one of the most promising wrestlers of Team USA.

Will Aaron Brooks continue the legacy of the champion that came before him?

The Maryland native always showed promise as a young wrestler, winning silver at the U20 World Championships. However, it was under the watchful eye of Penn State’s Cael Sanderson that Brooks truly came into his own. His success started after winning his first of four consecutive Big Ten golds in 2020. The Nittany Lion found similar success at the NCAA Division I Championships, surpassing his icon Jordan Burroughs.

Aaron Brooks also proved himself by defeating defending Olympic champion David Taylor. Thankfully, the 2023 U23 World Champion has already shown he can hold his own on the international stage. So, Paris won’t be his first test outside the national wrestling landscape. However, it will be the toughest challenge in the young wrestler’s career so far.

It’s impossible to predict what will happen at the Olympics. However, it’s safe to assume that Aaron Brooks carries the hopes and dreams of American wrestling fans. Although he won’t have his childhood wrestling icon as a team member, Brooks will look to add to the legacy of American wrestling, just as Jordan Burroughs did during his prime.