“I want people to love women’s wrestling as much as I do … It’s such a beautiful sport. I think it does combine grace and strength and resiliency and power also through an artistic expression.” The most decorated wrestler of all time from the U.S. is a two-time Olympic medalist and three-time world champion who was on the verge of retiring from wrestling after sustaining numerous concussions throughout her career. Well, wonder who it is? The 32-year-old Helen Maroulis is now set to represent the U.S. in the Olympics for the third time at the Paris Olympics 2024 making her the oldest woman from the US to compete as an Olympic wrestler, and a strong contender to look out for.

Well, the phrase ‘comeback is stronger than the setback’ is pretty evident in her sporting journey. In 2018 Maroulis faced three concussions which caused her post-traumatic stress disorder. “It really felt as if my career was over.” After being out of the game for eight months due to shoulder surgery, Helen Maroulis utilized that time to overcome her PTSD. She went on to win the bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and also qualified for the Paris Olympics at the U.S. Olympic Trials in April, where she triumphed over the Tokyo Olympian, Jacarra Winchester in a best-of-three series. “My love of the sport is what got me to come back. I was fighting to get healthy, but wrestling helped me to heal as well. Once that healing took place I realised how much I loved it and I wanted to do it [wrestling] again.” Her love for the sport along with the support she gets from her family and coach has helped her overcome her tough times.

Helen Maroulis defeated three-time Olympic champion Saori Yoshida in the final of the 53kg at the Rio Olympics and called it one of the best days of her life. “To beat a legend, that was one of the best days of my life. You can’t really replicate that.” Her enduring success is largely due to the unwavering support she receives from her family and coach. Their encouragement and motivation have been instrumental in her remarkable career. Let’s deep dive into her past and family to uncover her backstory.

Meet Helen Maroulis’ father, mother and siblings

Helen Maroulis was just 7 years old when she started her wrestling journey. “I started wrestling when I was 7 years old. My little brother just joined the team and didn’t have a partner, and my mom didn’t want to make him quit. So she just said, ‘Helen take off your shoes, jump in there and be a dummy.’ So after two weeks of all this hard training, I went to my parents and said, ‘This isn’t fair. I’m doing what the boys are doing, but they get to compete and I don’t.’ So my dad made a bet with me that if I won my first match, I could continue wrestling. That was the only match I won all year.” Helen Maroulis developed an interest in wrestling when she was asked to be her younger brother’s drilling partner.

Even though Helen Maroulis lost the matches post that, she continued the sport and competed against boys in her high school and also became the first girl in the Maryland Boys’ State Championship to participate in that tournament. Although she did not win and placed sixth, she got motivated and boosted to pursue this as her sport. Helen Maroulis’s parents, Paula and Yiannis “John” Maroulis have always supported her in her journey even when she competed against the boys in her schooling days. Her father, Yiannis “John” Maroulis was born in Greece but moved to the US when he was young. After winning the gold in the 2016 Olympics, she became the first U.S. woman to win an Olympic wrestling gold and also became well known at her father’s native place and the Greek government put her photo on a postage stamp to recognise her achievement. “Everyone on the island, all the people came down cheering her as the boat came in. Church bells were ringing, horns honking. They really love her there,” said Helen Maroulis’s father.

“I was giving my dad a hard time because two years ago he said, ‘Hey, no more medals, just retire, get married, have kids.’ And I was like, ‘let me go one more, dad.’” Before qualifying for the Paris Olympics, Helen Maroulis was not able to bring many medals and her father wanted her to retire but she proved that she has still got it! Well, it was not just her parents who saw the potential in her, Helen Maroulis’s coach Terry Steiner guided her in her journey and has played a pivotal part in her career!

Meet Helen Maroulis’ coach, Terry Steiner

Terry Steiner is a former American wrestler now turned coach. The 53-year-old was a NCAA champion and three-time All-American during his time. He started training the women’s USA Wrestling Team in 2002 and since has been the U.S. National Coach for them. Under his training, the US women’s team won four medals at the Tokyo Olympics, including a bronze of Helen Maroulis. 

While Helen Maroulis can now be seen at the Paris Olympics under the training of Terry Steiner, she is a potential contender of a medal with her top cheerleaders cheering for her from the stands! For all we know, all American eyes are set on her as she makes her comeback stronger than ever!