Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Kyle Snyder (wrestler)

How Kyle Snyder (wrestler) built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Kyle Snyder is a highly accomplished American freestyle wrestler competing in the 97 kg weight class. Known for his aggressive style and relentless pursuit of takedowns, he has achieved significant success on the international stage. Snyder became the youngest wrestler in U.S. history to win an Olympic gold medal, capturing the title at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He is also a multiple-time world champion, demonstrating his consistent dominance in the sport. Beyond freestyle, Snyder also excelled in folkstyle wrestling during his collegiate career. His achievements have solidified his place as one of the premier wrestlers in the world.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

August 2013: FILA Junior World Championship

In August 2013, Kyle Snyder became the youngest American in over 20 years to win a FILA Junior World Championship.

November 2013: Ranked #1 Pound for Pound Wrestler

In November 2013, Kyle Snyder became the #1 ranked "Pound for pound" (P4P) American high school wrestler according to Flowrestling.org.

2013: Junior World Championships Gold Medal

During his gold medal Junior World Championships match in 2013, Kyle Snyder overcame an early deficit to secure victory by technical fall.

2013: Joins United States Olympic Training Center

In the fall of 2013, Kyle Snyder forgoes his senior year of high school competition and instead competes internationally as a resident athlete at the United States Olympic Training Center.

2014: Junior World Championships Defeat

In 2014, Kyle Snyder aimed to repeat his championship at the Junior World Championships but lost to Georgy Gogaev in the quarterfinals, later securing a bronze medal.

2014: Youngest Two-Time Junior World Medalist

In 2014, Kyle Snyder became the youngest two-time junior world medalist in American history.

2014: Joins Ohio State Buckeyes

In 2014, Kyle Snyder began wrestling for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

2014: Bronze Medal at Junior World Championships

In 2014, Kyle Snyder brought home a bronze medal at the Junior World Championships, becoming the youngest two-time Junior World medalist in American history.

2014: Beat the Streets All-Star Team

In the spring of 2014, 18 year-old Kyle Snyder was selected to represent Team USA as the youngest-ever member of the Beat the Streets All-Star team.

2015: Youngest World Champion in American Wrestling History

In 2015, Kyle Snyder became the youngest world champion in American wrestling history by defeating the reigning world champion after defeating Olympic gold medalist Jake Varner for a chance to represent the U.S. on its 2015 World Team. He also defeated Nick Gwiazdowski to earn his first individual NCAA title.

2015: NCAA Championship Win

In 2015, Kyle Snyder returned to the Buckeyes and won at heavyweight at the NCAA championships, defeating Nick Gwiazdowski.

2015: UWW World Champion at Age 19

Kyle Snyder became a UWW world champion at age 19 in 2015.

2016: Youngest Olympic Wrestling Champion

At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Kyle Snyder won the Gold Medal bout 2–1, becoming the youngest Olympic Wrestling Champion in USA history at the age of 20.

2016: Undefeated Season and Second NCAA Heavyweight Title

At the end of the 2016-2017 wrestling season, after returning to Ohio State, Kyle Snyder won his second consecutive NCAA heavyweight title at the end of an undefeated season.

2016: Triple Crown Win

In 2016, Kyle Snyder became the youngest wrestler ever to win the world, NCAA, and Olympic championships in the same year. This achievement marked a triple crown of American wrestling, a feat not accomplished in a generation until his victory at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

2016: Rio Olympic Gold Medal

In 2016, Kyle Snyder bested Khetag Gazyumov for his Rio Olympic gold medal.

2016: NCAA Heavyweight Title Win

In 2016, Kyle Snyder won his first NCAA heavyweight title in front of a sold-out Madison Square Garden, a match chosen by fans and broadcast live on ESPN. His college coach recounts how Snyder was the only athlete in the entire tournament who continually thanked the maintenance worker for refilling the water jugs.

September 2017: Ranked Best Pound-for-Pound Wrestler

In September 2017, Kyle Snyder was ranked as the best pound-for-pound freestyle wrestler on the planet by Flowrestling, following his victory over Abdulrashid Sadulaev at the 2017 World Championships.

2017: Second Consecutive NCAA Heavyweight Title

In 2017, Kyle Snyder clinched his second consecutive NCAA heavyweight title despite tearing cartilage in his chest in the quarter-finals and being outweighed by upwards of 40 pounds throughout the tournament.

2017: "The Match of the Century" at World Championships

In 2017, Kyle Snyder faced Abdulrashid Sadulaev in the finals of the Paris World Championships in what was dubbed "The Match of the Century."

May 2018: Appointed to Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition

In May 2018, President Donald Trump appointed Kyle Snyder to be a member of his Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition.

June 2018: Retained Best Pound-for-Pound Ranking

In June 2018, Kyle Snyder retained his title as the best pound-for-pound freestyle wrestler, as ranked by Flowrestling.

2018: Third Straight NCAA Title

In 2018, Kyle Snyder won his third straight individual NCAA title as a heavyweight, being outweighed by nearly 60 pounds. This victory made him the first three-time NCAA heavyweight champion in nearly 30 years.