Mason Parris opens up on Olympic Gold Medal quest in wrestling

Mason Parris won an NCAA title for Michigan back in 2023 and immediately shifted gears to the 2024 Olympics.

As the Team USA representative at 125 KG, Parris brings a great resume to Paris, ironically, and is in good position to win a Gold Medal this summer. The United States won the weight back in the 2020 games with Gable Steveson coming out victorious. Steveson has since left wrestling and is now attempting to make the Buffalo Bills roster.

But this version of Parris, who seemingly improved by leaps and bounds over the last year, is ready for the challenge.

“It means the world for me to compete in the Olympics,” Parris said. “I’m so honored and privileged to wrestle for the United States and represent the United States. Represent my community back home, represent the University of Michigan. After I became an NCAA champion by goal after that was adjust to make the Olympic team and now that I just made the Olympic team, my next goal is to adjust to become an Olympic gold medalist.”

Parris adjusted to put it lightly. Sporting a 120-18 career record with the Wolverines, Parris ended as a four-time All-American, a runner-up in 2021 and of course, champion in 2023.

Because he represented the US at the 2023 World Championships and won a Bronze Medals, Parris was granted an automatic berth into the best-of-three finals at the Olympic Trials.

He defeated Hayden Zillmer with back-to-back 7-0 decisions to win the spot.

“A lot of it is just training and staying consistent, staying disciplined and, you know, continuing to just do my thing on the mat and, you know, find love and enjoy it,” Parris said. “I’m gonna go out there and (treat it) just like it was any other wrestling tournament. I came to the University of Michigan because I saw my full potential in wrestling. 

“The support system I have here, the culture we have with the guys is just amazing. You know, we have guys from, you know, all over different countries that are competing in the Olympics and every single guy that wrestles here wants to be an Olympic champion. So it’s easy to feel good and feel supported in an amazing place like this.”

Wrestling in Paris begins August 5th and Parris’ bracket at 125 KG begins four days later as he looks to bring home a Gold Medal.