Mason Parris seemed all set to make his country proud in the 125kg freestyle wrestling. However, Team USA faced a setback in the category when Parris was unable to bring his best game on the mat. The wrestler was defeated during the 1/8 finals, eliminating him from competing for the bronze medal as well.

This went down in the Champ-de-Mars arena on the 9th of July. Parris was up 7th on Mat C against Lkhagvagerel Munkhtur of Mongolia. After showing him what he is made of, the 24-year-old eventually lost the match, unable to progress further. He stayed silent since the defeat only to break silence on social media.

Mason Parris has something to say to you

This is shocking news for the supporters of the United States as Gable Steveson was able to secure gold for his homeland during the Tokyo Olympics in the same weight category. Mason Parris, who is the same age as him, could have carried on his legacy by securing a spot on the podium for his country. But fate had other plans.

Unable to fill in his shoes at the competitive game, Parris took to Instagram to console those disappointed and thank the ones who have shown unwavering support. The wrestling star wrote, “Thank you everyone for your support! Love you guys! I’ll be back!”

Despite the events leading up to an upsetting fate, Parris is optimistic that things will work out for him the next time he is representing Team USA. As for Steveson, he may not walk down this path again. He currently plays as a defensive end for the Buffalo Bills in the NFL.

This isn’t the first heartbreak for the USA in heavyweight wrestling at the 2024 Olympics.

Mason Parris isn’t the only American wrestler to have lost

We wouldn’t learn and grow as much if not for our failures. This is the mindset that sets an athlete apart from others. Much like Mason Parris, another wrestler is going home without a medal this year to come back stronger the next time. Kamal Bey, Team USA’s Greco-Roman wrestler who was expected to stand on the podium this year, also met the same fate as Mason Parris. The army man also lost in the 1/8 finals to a Kyrgyztani wrestler. Both of these wrestlers tried their best to secure a win for their country but failed to do so.

However, one should always remember that we are not defined by our failures. If you are losing hope in Team USA, keep reminding yourself that the Paris Olympics are still not wrapped up and the Stars and Stripes are still leading the scoreboard. As for the athletes who were not able to outperform their competitors this year, they will have another shot in the coming years. Hopefully, we will see both Mason Parris and Kamal Bey outperform themselves four years down the line.

What are your thoughts on the heartbreaks by Team USA so far? Feel free to vent in the comments below.