Caitlin Clark Hailed Spencer Lee “GOAT” Long Before the Wrestler Punched His Paris Olympics Ticket

It looks like things are finally falling into place for Spencer Lee. The Iowan’s health has been a major talking point for fans over the last weeks, but in Istanbul, the three-time NCAA champ made it clear he didn’t come to play around. With his trip to Paris confirmed, a year-old video of fellow Iowan Caitlin Clark bestowing a significant honor on Spencer has resurfaced, showing the kind of respect and position he holds among his collegiate colleagues.

In a video posted by the official Iowa website last year in February, Clark and Lee can be seen appearing together for a talk show called “GOAT Talk”. As the two Iowa icons take their seats and get ready to answer some pressing questions from their fans, Caitlin evidently had a hard time trying to keep herself from gushing with Spencer Lee right next to her. Right off the bat, Clark made it clear what she thought of Lee. “Welcome to GOAT Talk, at least with one GOAT,” announced the two-time National Player of the Year, pointing at Lee.

Caitlin is the all-time leading scorer in the NCAA women’s basketball scene and is arguably one of the greatest collegiate athletes to step into the ring. However, even she looked smitten when Clark got the opportunity to share the stage with the wrestling star. “He’s the Man,” confessed Clark as Spencer protested with a meek “Yeah, right!“. Clark went the length to claim that her life was “made“, now that she had a picture with the wrestling sensation.

As the duo went on to address fans’ inquiries and discuss their individual sport, it remained clear that being able to rub shoulders with Spencer Lee on the same stage gave Clark the butterflies-in-the-stomach feel. And Spencer is going to get a chance to carry forward that GOAT legacy in the coming days.

Considering how Spencer’s recent weeks have been, it wouldn’t be far-fetched for his fans to consider him one of the greatest collegiate wrestlers to have ever stepped onto the mat. The 25-year-old has several accolades in his bag, which can seat him with some of the biggest stars in the country. However, that journey has not been a smooth sail.

Spencer Lee’s demons came in other forms than just his opponents

For almost the entirety of 2023, Lee was pushed to the sidelines because of a leg injury. The matter was so severe that he had to pull out from the US Open while also cutting short his promising collegiate career. However, he refused to stand still and watch the world pass by and returned to action at the Bill Farrell Memorial in New York in November after a long and arduous recovery journey.

Winning the event, Lee made it clear that he was back and hungry for more. The former Hawkeye wrestler retained his prolific form going into the US Wrestling Team Trial, where he again won the final match against fellow Iowan Thomas Gilman in the final match of the 57kg bracket.

Despite the win, Lee had to fly to Istanbul since the US had to qualify for the Olympics in the weight class. However, the challenge didn’t prove to be too big of an obstacle and Lee won four straight matches to secure his place on the national team headed to Paris in July. Justifiably, considering him a GOAT wouldn’t be an overstatement.

Now, only time will tell if Spencer’s maiden trip on the biggest sporting stage brings uncharted glory and honor his way or if he succumbs to his ACL injuries and breaks his fans’ hearts.