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Jordan Burroughs heckled by fan after Olympic Trials loss

IMG_6598by:Nick Kosko•04/20/24•

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Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK

Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs was heckled by a fan following his loss at the Trials Friday night.

The 2012 Olympic gold medalist and six-time World Champion fell 3-0 to Jason Nolf in the 74 KG challenge finals. Nolf is a former three-time NCAA champion from Penn State and was one of many former Nittany Lions on display in State College this weekend.

But as Burroughs walked off the mat and exited through the tunnel, one fan repeatedly said “it’s over” towards the former Nebraska national champ.

Burroughs was walked through the tunnel by his former Huskers coach Mark Manning who also yelled back up towards the fan, who is seen in the video.

Burroughs can be heard asking “what have you done?” Manning added “go have another beer. Classless.”

Burroughs was the king of the 74 KG weight class for a decade in America. His 2012 Olympic Gold Medal is the highlight of his career but he also won six gold medals at the World Championships, two of them coming at 79 KG in 2021 and ‘22.

Burroughs did not make the Olympic team in the last cycle (2020 but held in 2021), losing the spot to Kyle Dake. Dake was a four-time NCAA champion at Cornell and won the Bronze Medal in 2021.

In what could be considered his last, best shot at making the Olympic team, Burroughs ran through the bracket before running into Nolf Friday night. Nolf will wrestle Dake, who joined the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club, in the best of three finals Saturday.

Father Time catches up to everyone and Burroughs lost his 79 KG World Team spot in 2023 to Chance Marstellar, losing two matches to one in the best of three finals at Final X last June.

However, Burroughs returned to form at the 2024 Yasar Dogu Tournament in March, winning gold at 74 KG. His freestyle record stands at 239-19 throughout his international career.

A New Jersey native, Burroughs won a state title before going to Nebraska to wrestle collegiately. He won national titles in 2009 and ‘11 while also finishing third in 2008.

Burroughs represented the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center during this latest run internationally. He did not retire and place his shoes in the center of the mat, signaling the end of his career.

It remains to be seen what’s next for the American legend.