Serious Injury Derailed Kurt Angle’s Plans to Become Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist in 2004

Kurt Angle, an Olympic Gold medalist, A prefix that even came before his decorative WWE identities. Angle didn’t step into the wrestling world as a prolific WWE superstar of the Attitude era. He has been a role model of amateur wrestling before joining forces with the world’s biggest wrestling promotion. He won a plethora of championships during his high school and college days. Then his childhood passion for sport eventually led him to clinch the highest honor in the heavyweight weight class of freestyle wrestling at the Summer Olympics 1996.

His life finally came full circle. The 28-year-old young talent successfully marked himself differently from those who let their long-nurtured dream go by the board throughout the ages. That said, the path to his remarkable success wasn’t easy. Apart from the toilsome training, the 13-time WWE World Champion had to fight a severe neck injury right before heading to his Olympic dream. But he refused to bow down to the misfortune and ended up being in the seventh heaven, achieving his goal regardless. But, in the 2004 Olympics, it was a whole different story.

Kurt Angle’s dream of becoming a two-time Olympic Gold medalist shattered due to a neck injury

The former WWE Heavyweight had a long battle with his neck throughout his life. He broke his neck several times. While sometimes the almighty turned out a savior, he had been given a bitter reality check from time to time as well. The hardest one came in the form of another broken neck ahead of 2004’s Summer Olympics. But this time, Lesnar had to retreat, unlike in 1996. It was probably because the intensity of the hurt was more severe than earlier.

Whatever the reason might be, Angle still couldn’t get out of that missed opportunity in his life. He was almost there to nail it in 2004 as well, but then the mishap struck hard. During a recent episode of The Kurt Angle Show, the 54-year-old noted, ”I was real close. I was going to take a year off. I already talked about it with Vince McMahon. The problem was I broke my neck again. That was it. There’s no chance for me doing it.”

Maybe another gold was awaiting him on the corner at the 2004 Olympic arena. Who knows!

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However, speaking to the main culprit, that persistent neck issues still continue to haunt him.

Kurt Angle is on the verge of killing his neck issues permanently

To wrestlers, most of the time, dealing with injuries takes half of their career and life as well. As long as Kurt Angle is concerned, his ultimate foe was his own neck, which cost him a potential Olympic gold in 2004. Even after 19 years passed, it didn’t leave Angle in peace. Earlier this year, the legend underwent back surgery to alleviate pain running down his leg.

While providing the update for his post-operation health, the star noted a neck fusion surgery stands next in the queue. He will probably put himself under the knife again to get rid of his years-long neck complexities in the coming year. His motivation behind getting his health right is, however, to play with his kids seamlessly.

We wish the legend good health, of course, with the regret of not being able to see another feather in his cap in the form of a second Olympic Gold.

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What’s your take on Kurt Angle missing out on 2004’s Summer Olympics due to a broken neck? Let us know in the comments.