Aaron Brooks’ Paris Olympics Gold Chances Tremble as Iranian Wrestler Makes His Grand Return

The Olympic Wrestling Team Trials from April was a thrilling affair. The Bryce Jordan Center saw incredible action on the mat, and while the defending Olympic champ David Taylor crashed away from the tournament unexpectedly, there was plenty to compensate for that. Penn State’s Aaron Brooks emerged as the winner of the 86kg weight class, but he might need to re-evaluate his hopes now that dark clouds seem to be amassing on the horizon.

Brooks took down Penn State alum Taylor in two straight sets to claim the spot in Team USA for the upcoming Olympics. However, another Olympic gold medalist just made his return and now stands on Brooks’ way to the top of the podium.

The ongoing 2024 POLYÁK IMRE & VARGA JÁNOS MEMORIAL Ranking Series in Budapest is showing off some impressive skills and the USA’s men aren’t doing too shabby either. With three medals already in the bag, the American contingent is looking strong, but adversity looms. Iran’s celebrity wrestler Hassan Yazdani, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist, subdued NC State’s Trent Hidlay in the 86kg weight bracket to win the gold. “Trent Hidlay won a men’s freestyle silver medal at 86 kg at the Polyak Imre & Varga Janos Memorial Ranking Event in Budapest, Hungary Friday. He fell to 2016 Olympic champion Hassan Yazdani of Iran in the final,” notifies a recent post on X by the official USA Wrestling account.

Yazdani made his return to the mat after eight months when he was recovering from a shoulder injury. Coming back, he proved once again just how good he is by defeating the same wrestler who beat four-time NCAA champ Carter Starocci at the Olympic Team Trials two months ago. With that in mind, it shouldn’t be all too surprising if Aaron Brooks feels some cold sweats run down his spine.

Yazdani’s tryst with the USA has been a long one, with several wrestlers from the country having faced him over the years. While some of them wriggled out victories, others have been defeated by the Iranian star. Considering his track record against Team USA, things could get intense should Brooks also come across the three-time world champ in Paris.

An intimidating foe standing on Aaron Brooks’ way

At the Tokyo Olympics, Yazdani was overpowered by David Taylor in the 86kg bracket final match, and obviously, the former will be coming with vengeance for American wrestlers at the upcoming Olympic Games. However, on the other hand, at the 2023 Zagreb Open, Yazdani pulled off a thunderous 10-0 win over the USA’s Mark Hall to win gold in his weight class. Yazdani has also defeated Taylor at the 2021 World Championships and successfully avenged his defeat from months earlier. Other American wrestlers like Nick Marable and Adam Hall have also fallen previously at Hassan’s hands, and Aaron might have to work extra hard to ensure his chances to finish at the top of the podium, especially considering how life hasn’t been easy for Cael Sanderson’s star student.

While Brooks maintained that the drug fiasco pertaining to his failed blood test from the U23 World Championships from last year is nothing but a scheme to derail his Paris dream, his anxiety was laid to rest when he was cleared of the allegations last month. Now, coming out of the temporary setback, it waits to be seen if the NLWC man taps into his inner strength to repeat what his predecessor managed at the last Olympics.

Who will be your pick in a match between Brooks and Yazdani? Share your predictions with us!