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WHO 13
Iowa Hawkeye alum Spencer Lee to grapple for gold in Paris
By Kelly MaricleJason Prine,
6 hours ago
DES MOINES, Iowa — Hawkeye wrestling legend Spencer Lee claimed three NCAA titles while at the University of Iowa and has his sights set on winning a Freestyle gold medal while representing Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Lee isn’t an Iowa native but Hawkeye Head Coach Tom Brands, himself an Olympic gold medalist (Atlanta, 1996), knows Lee’s commitment to representing the state.
“We tell our guys when they come and they’re from out of state, this is home, and Spencer he bought into that right away. And here we are, what…eight years later and whatever… and Iowa’s been home since day one when he walked on campus here… doesn’t surprise me,” said Brands.
FILE – Iowa’s Spencer Lee is lifted up onto the shoulders of teammates Max Murin, left, and Jacob Warner as they are acknowledged on senior day after a college wrestling dual against Oklahoma State, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023, in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa 125-pounder Spencer Lee has a chance to win his fourth national title this weekend at the NCAA wrestling championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma(Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen via AP, File)
Spencer Lee (left) takes a photo with Jody Strittmatter (right) and Strittmatter’s son (middle) (Courtesy: Jody Strittmatter)
Spencer Lee reacts after defeating Thomas Gilman during a 57-kilogram match at the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team Trials in State College, Pa.,, Saturday, April 20, 2024. Lee won the bout 8-2. (AP Photo/Jackson Ranger)
Iowa wrestler Spencer Lee, left, answers a question during a news conference on practice day at the NCAA Division I Wrestling National Championships, Wednesday, March 15, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla. Penn State’s Roman Bravo-Young is at right. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Iowa’s Spencer Lee, right, takes on Arizona State’s Brandon Courtney during their 125-pound match in the finals of the NCAA wrestling championships Saturday, March 20, 2021, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
FILE – In this March 23, 2019, file photo, Iowa’s Spencer Lee, left, celebrates his win over Virginia’s Jack Mueller (not shown) in their 125-pound match in the finals of the NCAA wrestling championships in Pittsburgh. The Iowa wrestling team looks to take care of unfinished business this season. The Hawkeyes were the overwhelming favorites to win the 2020 NCAA Tournament, which was canceled because of the pandemic. They enter this season as the unanimous No. 1 team with Hodge Award winner Spencer Lee and eight other returning All-Americans. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
Iowa’s Spencer Lee, left, takes on Arizona State’s Brandon Courtney during their 125-pound match in the finals of the NCAA wrestling championships Saturday, March 20, 2021, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Iowa’s Spencer Lee, right, takes on Purdue’s Devin Schroder during their 125-pound match in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA wrestling championships Friday, March 19, 2021, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Spencer Lee honored at Iowa Capitol. (WHO-HD)
Lee has continued to train with Brands at the University of Iowa in the lead-up to the Olympics. He won the US Olympic Trials in April at 57 kg and had a dominating 4-0 performance at the world Olympics qualifier in Turkey in May.
“I feel good, man. I’m ready to go. We know what it takes to be at that level. I got coaches who have been there and know what it takes to train and prepare the best,” said Lee as he prepared to depart Iowa for the Olympics
Brands thinks Lee is ready for the big stage the Olympics’ provides.
“He’s where he needs to be for the next step and that’s the most important thing. When you have a chance of takin’ care of business you’re takin’ care of it. Put yourself in the best position. He did, and he did it on his own, He did it in short turn around,” said Brands.
Lee’s mother and her family are from France and he’s excited to get to wrestle in front of his grandmother in person for the first time. Both his parents were judoka’s and his mother Cathy was an Olympic alternate judoka for France.
Lee graduated with a BS in Sport and Recreation Management from Iowa in 2021.
Hawkeye Career Highlights
Three-time NCAA Champion
Iowa’s second five-time All-American
Three-time Big Ten Champion
Three-time Big Ten Wrestler of the Year
2018 Big Ten Freshman of the Year
College career record of 98-6
12 career falls in under one minute
26-0 in his career inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena
Watch Men’s Freestyle 57 kg elimination August 8, 4:00 a.m. CT on Peacock
Find out more about when your favorite Olympic events are scheduled and how you can watch them here .
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