Paris Olympics 2024: 20-Year-Old Wrestler Overcomes Shame To Aim For the Gold for the US: ‘They Made Fun of Me’

Amit Elor has chinks in her armor, but her resolute determination trumps all else. Amit Elor is on the brink of creating history as the female athlete to represent Team USA in wrestling at the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics. Since her early days in school and beyond, Elor has showcased her skills in the sport like no other at her age of 20. Raised in a family deeply passionate about sports with five siblings sharing the enthusiasm for athletics, she embarked on her wrestling journey at ten years old. Today she is well on her way to becoming the first in her family to compete on the stage.

Elor’s dedication has propelled her towards her lifelong dream. Reflecting on her journey, she expresses excitement, stating, “I’ve always wanted to go to the Olympics, ever since I started wrestling. It’s still really hard to believe; I think honestly I’ll only realize it when I’m there on competition day. It’s surreal!“ Despite the challenges she’s faced, including overcoming moments of embarrassment among friends, Elor’s commitment to her sport has paved the way for this historic achievement.

Amit Elor is the inexorable juggernaut trudging forward to the Paris Olympics

A recent segment on the “KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco” YouTube channel titled “East Bay woman headed to Paris Olympics to fulfill a dream as a wrestler” featured an interview with Amit Elor. Amidst the excitement surrounding her Olympic journey, Elor candidly revealed the challenges she faced along the way. Recounting instances of ridicule and misunderstanding from friends, she shared, “I’ve heard all sorts of things for a while. I was embarrassed of it. I would tell my friends that I wrestle and they would think that it’s WWE. They would ask what’s your costume Or your what’s your stage name And I was like, no it’s an actual sport.”

Despite the discouragement, Elor’s remained unshaken. She explained, “A lot of times I would tell friends about it and they would make fun of me say, it’s gross. The wrestlers are stinky, wrestlers are stupid. I’ve heard all sorts of things and so I’ve constantly wanted to prove them wrong and continue to pursue it no matter what they said.” This determination shows Elor’s love for her sport and her unyielding pursuit of her Olympic dream. However, her journey began in childhood with Judo, something she has extrapolated and transmuted well in her wrestling foray.

From judo prodigy to wrestling sensation

At the age of nine, she proudly represented the United States in the INTL Intermediate division of Judo. Her path to becoming a wrestling sensation began to unfold in 2022 when at 18 years old she achieved a feat by becoming an American, regardless of gender, to secure a world championship title across three different age and weight categories. Noteworthy was her standout performance at the World Cup 2022, her competition at the senior level, where she made significant contributions, as part of the team and ultimately clinched an impressive fourth-place finish.

Again in 2023, she won the gold medal at the Pan American Wrestling Championships. Then again this year, she reached the peak of her accomplishments in the Pan American Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament wherein she earned a spot for the Paris Olympics. With an impressive track record that includes winning gold medals at competitions such as the Junior World Championships and Senior World Championships, Elors journey highlights her talent. At 20 years old, she has already showcased her abilities and witnessing her performance at the Paris Olympics is sure to be an exciting experience for both wrestling enthusiasts and sports fans.