Spencer Lee is no stranger to the downfalls of pressure. Just two years after his double ACL surgery and a shocking loss that cost him a chance at a fourth NCAA championship, Lee found himself in an interesting place. He found himself competing for the Olympic gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The stakes were high, and Lee was a man with a mission! He went through his 57-kilogram division competitors like a knife through the air.

But in the final showdown, Spencer Lee was hit with a plot twist. He went on to battle Japan’s Rei Higuchi. Higuchi won 4-2, sealing the deal with a last-second takedown. Talk about a heartbreaking moment! In a recent interview, Lee spoke about the same. With a pinch of grief, he went on to say, “Oh gosh, I mean, shoot. Kind of got to say the Olympics.” Oof! Let’s take a moment and rewind because this was no ordinary loss.

Lee, who earned the nickname “Yoda” for his tricks on the mat, embodies resilience. Paris, however, for Lee was a reminder of the malleability of the human spirit. Lee’s streak of wins began early, with him winning three PIAA state championships in high school. This was followed by his journey at the University of Iowa, where he went on to win the NCAA title in 2018, 2019, and 2021. Post the highs of winning came the Paris Olympics. The ultimate stage.

But unfortunately, “I lost two in criteria, and then I went for like a last drop with, like, five seconds left. Pretty, pretty tough, I would say. You know, you spend your whole life for one moment, and then you fail. Pretty, pretty awful,” revealed Spencer Lee. This silver also brought along a wave of speculation around his retirement. Lee himself went on to say, “I don’t think there will ever be a perspective where I think it’s (a silver medal) good.” To top it off, he misplaced that medal! His words definitely speak of a larger situation at play, here.

Spencer Lee will be back, if history serves as a testament!

Let’s get real—Spencer Lee, historically, has never been the one to go gently into that quiet night. Of course, he admits that second place isn’t a nice feeling. But let’s not forget, this is a man who thrives on challenges. From his yesteryears, Lee has been constantly battling. And that too, not just on the mat! Lee’s first major setback hit in college was when he tore his ACL just before the NCAA championships. Of course, this wasn’t going to stop Lee. He came back with a bang and won his first national title in 2018.

This has been a pattern throughout Spencer Lee’s career. Struggle, rise, and conquer nevertheless! In 2021, Lee faced yet another ACL injury days before his NCAA Championship. This caused him to miss out on his chance at a fourth championship title. If that wasn’t enough, the misfortune of injuries followed him all the way to the 2021 Tokyo Olympic trials. He was forced to pull out of the competition due to knee injuries.

Lee has had his fair share of disappointments on the mat, too. The 2023 NCAA Championships ended badly for Lee. The match between Lee and Matt Ramos in the semis ended with Matt winning. Bad moments are nothing new to Lee. So, despite it all, will Spencer Lee be back on the mats again? If history is to be trusted, Spencer Lee is built for comebacks. Watch his story because he is far from being done.