Gable Steveson is aware of you may’t win all of them.
The Olympic gold medal wrestler, who suffered a stunning upset loss at the 2025 NCAA Division I Wrestling National Championships on Saturday, isn’t getting too mired in defeat as a result of that’s simply how the game goes typically. Closely favored to win his third Nationwide Title for the College of Minnesota, Steveson gave up a late takedown to Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson that ended their match in a 5-4 rating.
It was the primary takedown Steveson had surrendered all season lengthy.
“First, Thanks Gopher Wrestling,” Steveson wrote on Instagram. “From a 18 yr outdated child to now 24 years outdated (Or 30 years outdated as some would say lol) After I left in 2022 there was at all times this itch to present y’all one final go round and I’m glad I may come again and provides the College the sunshine that it deserves! We had a generational run and I don’t remorse my determination to remain at house to placed on for town time and again!
“Bumps within the street gone occur, that’s what makes sports activities so loopy! However we reside for moments like these and I’m simply effective!! In the long run Wins and Losses won’t ever outline what I attempted to do for the game of wrestling.. The attraction, viewership, and showmanship at all times meant essentially the most to me once I stepped out on the mat. To provide it the sunshine it deserves.”
Steveson returned to varsity for his ultimate yr of eligibility after he received his Olympic gold medal through the 2020 video games after which signed a profitable contract to affix the WWE.
Sadly, skilled wrestling didn’t work out for Steveson as he was finally launched from his contract and he then took a stab at soccer regardless of by no means really taking part in the sport earlier than. He inked a deal to affix the Buffalo Payments and took part through the 2024 coaching camp however Steveson didn’t make the ultimate lower.
Whereas he did obtain curiosity in probably becoming a member of the follow squad, Steveson finally determined to return to varsity to wrestle for Minnesota one final time.
He went undefeated via the season and captured one other Large 10 title earlier than making a dominant run via the NCAA match till he bumped into Hendrickson, a lieutenant within the Air Power who transferred to Oklahoma State for his ultimate yr of eligibility that wasn’t accessible to service academy pupil athletes.
“To my supporters I admire all of the love via my time in collegiate wrestling,” Steveson stated. “From skipping warmups to staying late after each twin regardless town to speak to everybody positively made it well worth the time!
“To all of the doubters, and naysayers that I had this yr.. No matter the way you felt… YOU STILL WATCHED and I thanks for that too.”
Steveson didn’t straight tackle his future however he beforehand instructed MMA Combating that he deliberate to pursue a second gold medal with the Olympics touchdown in Los Angeles in 2028. He skipped out on the 2024 video games whereas he was signed with WWE and the US males’s freestyle crew ended up not capturing a single gold medal for the first time in 56 years.
On prime of his plans to return to wrestling, Steveson has openly discussed plans to eventually transition to MMA as well, particularly after forming a bond with UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones after working collectively throughout his coaching camp to organize for a battle towards Stipe Miocic this previous November.
