Carrying Past Burdens, Spencer Lee Strives to Prove Dominance at Paris Olympics: “Take That Back”

Amidst Stevan Micic’s withdrawal from the Paris Olympics in the 57-kg category, Spencer Lee is on his way to start his endeavor in the same bracket. The three-time NCAA champion is nothing short of a fury on the mat in his day. Ask Thomas Gilman. The veteran found no way to thwart the Hawkeyes’ standout’s hold and eventually gave up in the National Championship final. Furthermore, Spencer stood firm when he did not have an easy way to find his berth on the flight to the Paris Olympics. 

Just a few hours ahead of his first game in the French capital, the 25-year-old has tried to get back on his journey that landed him in the greatest show on earth. It comes in a mixed bag. 

Spencer Lee reminisces about his ups and downs to make it to the national team 

Three years ago, his knee injury kept him away from the Olympic team. And now that the Games are in France, the region to which Spencer Lee’s mother belongs, the wrestler has found a bumpy road ahead to meet his chance to compete. It was because of the complicated qualification process that the American wrestlers had to go through.

But ultimately, he’s here. So naturally, the Pennsylvania native could not stop himself from revealing his merrier emotions when expressing that journey. He rather mentioned, “I kind of got to be able to take that back for myself.” Here, he was talking about his selection for the national team. So the next question could be, What was that selection process? 

Spencer Lee’s tryst with injury affected his entry into the national team several times. His qualification for the Paris Olympics was not affected by that reason. Rather, the inability to finish in the top five in the 57-kg category at the World Championships last year hindered the route. So only clearing the Olympic trials this year was not sufficient to open the gate. Additionally, at the Pan American Games qualifier, none of the American wrestlers in the same bracket could finish in the top two. Then, things came down to one single gate. 

In Istanbul this year, he had to earn it in the World Qualification Tournament by finishing in the top two. In the semifinals, his victory against Rakhat Kalzhan handed him the qualification. “I was happy I was able to do it,” he commented on his achievement. But things might get harder for him from this point in time. 

The Paris Olympics may display a fight between youth and experience

According to the published schedule, Spencer Lee will start his Paris Olympics journey, by facing Chinese wrestler Wanaho Zou. The opponent is already known to him, as he defeated Zou at the Olympic Games qualifier by 10-9. But in the subsequent round, he might face a veteran who has already challenged him. 

Rei Higuchi earned his Paris Olympics qualification by taking the silver medal at the 2023 Worlds. The Rio Olympic silver medalist comes with a bucket of experience, where both the 57-kg and 61-kg categories earned him a cabinet full of global titles. However, just after demolishing Rakhat Kalzhan at the World Qualification, Spencer Lee attracted Higuchi’s attention. On X, the latter penned, “See you in Paris.” Lee responded accordingly. 

He signed in with “See you in Paris, Champ!”. So after Micic’s backing out, Rei Higuchi could be proven the juggernaut for the American wrestler in the category. Interestingly, Higuchi defeated Stevan Micic at last year’s World Wrestling Championship. Therefore, anyone might expect a fiery battle on the calendar between these two wrestlers.