Gable Steveson, who won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, said Tuesday he will come out of retirement and return to the University of Minnesota for a fifth and final season of collegiate wrestling.
Steveson won gold as a heavyweight freestyle in Tokyo at age 21, then won his second national title in Minnesota in 2022 before retiring.
Now 24 years old, the two-time Hodge Trophy winner as the nation's top college wrestler returns with a 52-game winning streak.
“Minnesota has given me everything, and now it's my turn to give it back: to put my feet back on the wrestling mat, to be the champion, once again,” Steveson said in a video announcing his return.
Steveson has an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Minnesota said he is expected to make his season debut Nov. 24 against Campbell.
“Gable has a burning desire to compete for the Garnet and Gold one last time,” coach Brandon Eggum said. “We are grateful that he chose the opportunity to expand his storied legacy with our program. He is one of the best to ever compete in the sport of wrestling and we are grateful for the impact he has had on our program.”
Steveson tried professional wrestling with World Wrestling Entertainment and performed primarily in NXT, the company's developmental brand. After his release this year, he tried out for the NFL's Buffalo Bills despite never having played organized football. It didn't make the list.
He continued training with Eggum and considered trying to compete in the Paris Olympics before deciding against it.
