Gable Steveson’s return to college wrestling after his Olympic gold medal win definitely raised some eyebrows. People were quick to say things like, “Gable Steveson wrestling again seems kinda silly. Ragdolled a kid from NDSU tonight in Fargo” or “Has anyone messed up their career more after winning a Gold Medal than Gable Steveson?” But why all the backlash? Well, back in mid-November, Gable Steveson, who won a gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, announced he was coming out of retirement for one last season with the University of Minnesota.

Steveson, who won his second national title in 2022 before retiring, decided to make a comeback this year due to the extra eligibility granted due to COVID. His big return was set for November 23 against Campbell. You’d think fans would be hyped, right? Not exactly. Instead of cheers, Steveson faced a lot of criticism. Many felt it wasn’t fair to other student-athletes since he’s an Olympic gold medalist with way more experience. So why return after two years? Recently, Steveson opened up about it—this comeback isn’t just about wrestling. It’s all part of a bigger plan for his future, and it seems like this is just the first step.

Gable Steveson opens up about his comeback to college wrestling

Just last week, Gable Steveson joined FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul for a YouTube interview titled, “Gable Steveson on returning to Gophers’ wrestling: ‘I want to show the world who Gable Steveson is.'” During the interview session, Steveson’s revelations about the factors driving his return were revealed as he pondered the impact of his family on his decision to make a comeback. He said, “You know, that my family definitely helped me put me in the right spot.”

He further added, “My dad loves wrestling a lot, and he wanted to see me back last year, and he was just like, ‘If you got the time to do it, just finish it off. Finish it off in the best way you can, and walk off in that NCAA finals match with that title once again. “

Steveson’s goal is clear: “I want to win the Dan Hodge Trophy. It’s stuff I’ve done before, and I can do it again. Is it harder to repeat? Of course. But I’ve done it once; I can do it twice. But can I do it three times?” For Steveson though, it’s not about wrestling but about showing himself and those he cares, what he’s made of. However, the question arises: How was his debut match?

Steveson leads the Gophers to a dominant win in the long-awaited home return

On Saturday, at Maturia Pavilion, Gable Steveson made his long-awaited return. Steveson finally returned home to wrestle for the time, and he certainly lived up to expectations! The gold medalist and two-time NCAA heavyweight champion started off the match for the No. 8 Gophers against Campbell with a 20-4 technical fall, against Taye Ghidali—an All-American currently ranked No. 7 this season. That victory marked Steveson’s 54 consecutive college wins, increasing his overall record to a remarkable 87 wins and only 2 losses. It came just two days after his season debut, where he also dominated with a technical fall in the Gophers’ 39-0 against North Dakota State.

On Saturday, the Gophers delivered a dominant performance, with nine of their ten victories coming with bonus points, including three technical falls, five major decisions, and a forfeit. Freshman Max McEnelly impressed at 184 pounds, staying undefeated with a 19-4 technical fall and outscoring his opponents 126-26 this season. Their back-to-back shutouts marked the first time since 1997, when current head coach Brandon Eggum was on the team, that they achieved such a feat. The Gophers didn’t just win—they crushed it.

Next up? The Gophers face South Dakota State next Sunday, coached by Gophers legend Damion Hahn, a two-time NCAA champ himself. It’s shaping up to be a fun one!