Go big, or go home. This seems the philosophy that former NLWC star Aaron Brooks swears by! The City of Lights recently added another dazzling feat to the wrestler’s already lucent career- for Brooks is now an Olympic medalist. Courtesy of which, the 86kg bronze medal winner has just wrapped up a rather successful stint at his maiden Olympics. But, for him, it’s already time to aim higher. 

Aaron Brooks, Cael Sanderson’s star pupil with four NCAA golds to his name, is certainly poised for bigger things. A recent update suggests that a significant career change might be on the horizon for him.

Brooks is ready to turn over a new leaf

On August 12, the Wrestling room added an X post suggesting this possible change. It said that Brooks is set to explore higher weight categories, above 86kgs, possibly next year onward. To substantiate the source of the information, the account cited Aaron Brook’s father, John Brooks in a reply, who apparently said, “Aaron is too big for 86 after this year,” as part of a longer comment.

Throughout most of his NCAA career, Aaron Brooks competed in the 184-pound weight class, winning four NCAA titles in this category while wrestling for Penn State. His remarkable performance, including defeating the 2020 Olympic Champion David Taylor at the Wrestling Trials, earned him a spot in the 86 kg category for the Olympics. Despite having limited senior experience, Brooks has demonstrated his prowess by becoming the U20 and U23 world champion. His transition to the Olympic weight class and success at various levels showcase his exceptional talent and potential.

But it now looks like he is on a different path in his career. This comes after he had a rollercoaster experience at the Olympics. Despite being a gold medal contender, Brooks returned home with a bronze. So, what transpired on the mats in Paris?

Aaron Brooks’ Paris stint was a mixed bag

In the men’s 86kg freestyle category, Aaron Brooks lost the gold medal match to Magomed Ramazanov from Bulgaria. Despite starting with a 1-0 lead and coming off a strong performance, Brooks appeared well-positioned to secure the win. Earlier, he had defeated Azamat Dauletbekov, the #1 seed for the match. However, the challenge in the semifinals proved to be too great for him.

But it was only a matter of time before Brooks bounced back in the bronze medal match. It was clear he did not want to return empty-handed. Defeating Javrail Shapiev from Uzbekistan 5-0, he secured the bronze medal. Despite his achievements, Brooks has spoken about remaining calm and grounded. He recently said, “I don’t think I let t sink in because, I know its vanity at the end of the day.”  

And now, he is on the brink of a massive decision, What do you think of his call? Let us know below.