Aaron Brooks clinches 86kg bronze medal with 5-0 win over Uzbekistan's Javrail Shapiev

On Friday, Team USA’s Aaron Brooks hoped to achieve victory against Uzbekistan’s Javrail Shapiev in the Men’s Freestyle 86kg Bronze Medal Match.

That’s exactly what he did, as the former Penn State star captured the win by a score of 5-0 in Paris, reaching the podium and becoming an Olympic medalist.

Brooks came out of the gates hot, and he never looked back. He was dominant in his effort against Shapiev, who was no match for the Team USA competitor. A sweet black double put an emphasis on the match, and a double leg step out made it 5-0, and Brooks was on his way to bronze.

Moreover, Brooks was in the bronze medal match after failing to qualify for gold because he fell in the Olympic semifinals Thursday in a stunning upset.

Brooks lost 4-3 after holding a 3-0 lead over Magomed Ramazanov (Bulgaria). Brooks, who earned this year’s Olympic spot with a victory over 2020 Gold Medalist and former Nittany Lion Wrestling Club teammate David Taylor at the Trials, was on a tear until the final moments.

With 10 seconds left, Brooks led 3-2 over Ramazanov and attempted another low leg attack. But as he hung onto the leg, Ramazanov exposed Brooks’ back for the score and the stunning victory.

Already one of the greatest collegiate wrestlers of all-time, Brooks was trying to achieve Olympic gold, but instead he had to settle for an opportunity at bronze instead.

Moreover, Brooks began the Olympics with a 4-3 win over No. 1 seed Azamat Dauletbekov (Kazakhstan) and an 11-1 technical superiority over Hayato Ishiguro (Japan) in the first session. A five-time All-American at Penn State (2020 with a canceled tournament) and four-time NCAA champion, Brooks looks like the best version of himself at the moment.

After winning his fourth title at the collegiate level, Brooks didn’t slow down in preparation for the Olympic Trials.

“But one thing I talked about with Coach Cael (Sanderson) before this tournament, so different conversation, but, like, a target. God always molds you for those things,” Brooks said in Kansas City after NCAAs.

“My whole life I’ve had a target, whether being in Maryland and got known a little bit on the national stage, it prepares you for that. I just look at it that way. I’ve always had a target, not just me going for a fourth title but I’ve always had a target on my back regardless. We kind of had that conversation. I think that’s the truth. It’s nothing different when you’ve had a target on your back your whole life.”

Continuing, Brooks was his typical humble self after NCAAs, something he carried over the international wrestling scene.

“Praise the Lord. Being able to be present tonight is a gift,” Brooks said after his four NCAA titles. “Our team, special night, family being here, family and friends. I’m just very blessed that tonight played out as it did. Regardless, I’m very blessed, but it was fun.”

Alas, Aaron Brooks made Team USA and America as a whole proud with his performance in Paris, even though he fell short of his ultimate goal of bringing home gold.

On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this article.