“I love wrestling. It’s fun, you know? And even though I didn’t win, get what I wanted. You know, even if I had the gold medal, I’d still have the same answer,” said the 33-year-old American freestyle wrestler. Kyle Dake, a four-time World Champion, and two-time Olympian, proved his mettle on Saturday. With a display of both seasoned skill and tactical brilliance, Dake secured a dramatic last-minute victory for the bronze medal, besting Serbia’s Hetik Cabolov in a fiercely contested bout.

During his collegiate days, Kyle Dake carved his name into the annals of wrestling history by clinching the NCAA Division Championships four times. Remarkably, he achieved this feat in four distinct weight classes, making him the sole wrestler to ever master such a diverse range. Just before the Olympic trials, Duke was struck by the deep, heart-wrenching loss of his father, Doug, who passed away in April. This profound sorrow, a shadow cast over his journey, added a layer of personal struggle to his quest for Olympic glory. “It’s been a lot, a really long road,” stated Dake, remembering his father. “My dad got really sick at the beginning of the year and he passed away last week. He was the reason I got into wrestling. I just really miss him.”

Dake’s relationship with his daughters radiates joy and vitality. He reveals a surprising truth: rather than clouding his vision; it has honed his focus, transforming him into an even sharper and more determined world-class athlete after becoming a father to two girls. But might he now turn his gaze from the wrestling mat to his family?

Is Kyle Dake retiring?

When talking about Dake’s daughters, he said- “It got rid of a lot of distractions for me because I knew what I had to do, whether it be slight adjustments of workout times, having to get up a little earlier, go to sleep a little earlier, make that coincide better with my daughters’ sleep schedules,” he said. “That’s just the way it is. It really has sharpened me and made me focus more on the task at hand rather than worrying about business or camps or clinics or coaching, whatever else.” Well, they are indeed daddy little angels.

Following the loss of his father in April, Dake found a profound clarity: he yearns to cherish more moments with his family and children, savoring every precious second together. “What do my kids want to do, though? You know, like Ella Joe’s like, ‘hey dad, can you hurry up so we can go get ice cream?’ She just sent me a voicemail. I thought it was funny.” 

In the realm of wrestling, where age and weight play pivotal roles, Dake, at 33, found himself grappling with the heavy demands of the 74-kilogram class. As he continues his journey, the physical toll of this weighty challenge looms large on his horizon. “I feel pretty good. Muscles feel a little sore. The weight is still a thing, you know, it’s still, it just takes a lot out of you.” 

Whether he steps away from the mat or channels his wrestling prowess into coaching and mentoring, one certainty remains: Dake will be a constant presence in his children’s lives, embracing the gift of frequent moments with them.