“He’s an Animal”: Zain Retherford Clinches New Title After Punching His Ticket to Paris Olympics

Zain Retherford’s impressive journey to the 2024 Paris Olympics continues with his recent qualification at the World Olympic Wrestling Qualifiers 2024. After winning at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials in April this year, Retherford needed to secure a top-three finish to solidify his spot for the Paris Olympics. His outstanding performance on May 12th saw him win four straight matches, earning him the sixth and final spot for the United States in the men’s freestyle wrestling 65 kg class.

This achievement is particularly significant as it was Retherford’s last chance to qualify for Paris. Reflecting on Retherford’s journey, his PSU coach, Jake Varner, a former Olympic gold medalist turned coach, expresses immense pride in his accomplishments. Varner highlights the dramatic nature of Retherford’s qualifications and applauds his resilience throughout the process.

Jake Varner’s revelation about Zain Retherford

Zain Retherford wrestled the equivalent of a full World Championships event in just three hours and 28 minutes. Following his triumph, USA Wrestling conducted an insightful interview with Jake Varner, available on YouTube under the title “Jake Varner on Coaching Zain Retherford to Paris Olympics.” Reflecting on Retherford’s journey, Varner emphasized the incredible grit and determination shown by the Zain.

He lauded Retherford’s ability to overcome numerous challenges, including the rigorous demands of making weight and wrestling multiple matches in a single day. In describing Retherford’s performance, Varner exclaimed, “he’s an animal,” capturing the intensity and tenacity with which Retherford approached each match.

Varner’s pride in Retherford’s accomplishments was palpable as he expressed excitement for the upcoming journey to Paris, highlighting Retherford’s ability to make adjustments and perform under pressure. But there was a time for Zain when he was about to retire from wrestling.

From NCAA champion to Olympic contender

Zain Retherford, 28, a former three-time NCAA wrestling champ at Penn State, faced a challenging journey to the Olympics. He initially considered retirement from wrestling in 2023 and even accepted a part-time job with a financial firm. However, with support from the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club staff, Retherford devised a plan to pursue his Olympic dream.

He won the 65 kg weight class at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials in State College and headed to Istanbul, accompanied by NLWC teammate and training partner Nick Lee. In the recent tournament on 12th May, he even faced a critical moment after a 7-2 loss to Tumur Ochir of Mongolia in the round of 16.

Despite the initial defeat, he showed determination, winning four consecutive matches in the repechage rounds. His victory secured a spot in the Olympics after defeating opponents from Bahrain, Tajikistan, India, and Belarus. Retherford’s skills were evident in his dominating performance, ultimately fulfilling his Olympic dream.