“You need to approach things with a simple mindset,” Aaron Brooks says as he sets his sights on the Paris Olympics. But for his mother, the journey is anything but simple. As Brooks, who clinched his spot on the US team by besting OSU head coach David Taylor, gears up for the global stage, his mother is caught in a whirlwind of emotions. While she beams with pride over her son’s incredible achievement, she also wrestles with worry about the brutal nature of the sport.

Her 24-year-old son, despite his elite status, will always be her “baby.” As Brooks nears his Olympic dream, his mother’s conflicting feelings highlight the emotional rollercoaster that families of top athletes often face. How does one celebrate a son’s extraordinary success while also fearing for his safety?

How was Aaron Brooks’ mother affected during his match?

In a recent interview with NBC Washington, Aaron Brooks’ mother Ranelle Boyd shared her concerns over the extreme nature of wrestling as a sport. She said, “I didn’t know he was winning because I didn’t understand the points, so I’m crying because I just see his opponent being really physical with him.” The concern about wrestling being a taxing sport is shared by many. It demands agility, endurance as well as physical strength. It can often also lead to injuries with long-term repercussions. 

Most wrestlers seem to find it hard to talk later in life and several cases of wrestlers having their teeth knocked out or suffering burst ear drums have come forward. This is why maintaining weight class is so important. Previously, Aaron Brooks had sustained a knee injury due to ACL years which was a severe setback. Despite this, he managed to win 3 NCAA championships. He recovered with the help of the Iowa Hawkeye Program. To offset injuries, international wrestling organizations give athletes, parents, and coaches thorough training about health problems like concussions. 

Moreover, the Concussion Awareness Training Tool is also readily available to avoid a coma. Even conditioning exercises for the knee, neck, ankle, and shoulder help a lot. These are all the tips that Aaron Brooks will keep in mind as he has big expectations from the Olympics this year. However, Ranelle Boyd has emphasized that she is proud of how far he has gotten, and even if he doesn’t win the Olympics, she will always be proud of him for making it to this level. 

Aaron Brooks’ Olympic commitment: Balancing dreams and dangers

Aaron Brooks is known for his outstanding achievements in both high school and collegiate wrestling levels. Being a four-time Maryland state high school champion he has compiled an impressive career record of 163-2. Moreover, he became the seventh wrestler to win four National High School Coaches Association titles. He was also named the 2018 NHSCA Wrestler of the Year as well as being awarded the prestigious Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award.

During the 2024 U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials, Aaron Brooks dominated reigning 86-kilogram Olympic gold medalist David Taylor and claimed the spot on the U.S. team. Moreover, he beat Taylor in a score of 4-1 making it Taylor’s first loss to an American wrestler in seven years. In the consecutive match, Brooks win 3-1 victory. This was an appropriate answer to the time David Taylor had beat him in the 2021 world championship qualifier. Aaron Brooks has mentioned how he is not letting the magnitude of the Olympic stage overwhelm him, he is treating it more like a “business trip.” He said, “The bigger you make it, you’re kind of doing yourself a disservice.” Brooks will be training in Normandy and will only travel to the village to compete.