Kyle Snyder honored as a finalist during AAU James E. Sullivan Award banquet at the New York AC
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Video capture of Kyle Snyder during the AAU James E. Sullivan Award ceremony at the New York Athletic Club in New York City.
2016 Olympic freestyle wrestling champions Kyle Snyder was one of seven finalists honored this evening, as the prestigious AAU James E. Sullivan Award was awarded this evening at the world-famous New York Athletic Club in New York City.
Receiving the James E. Sullivan Award was Wisconsin volleyball star Lauren Carlini, the first volleyball player to win the award in its 87 year history.
"It was an honor to be selected as one of seven finalists for the AAU James E. Sullivan Award. It was a great event, and I hope to come back in the future. Lauren is a worthy recipient of this award and I want to congratulate her and her family for achieving such a high level of success. The best of luck to her and all of her endeavors," said Snyder after the banquet.
Snyder was introduced as part of the banquet ceremony, and had an opportunity to give his advice to young people who are involved in sports.
“My advice is to make sure you are having fun. The best way to do that is by valuing the correct things. Winning and accolades, all that stuff you really can’t control. But, if you find value in your work ethic and in your positivity and how well you can perform at whatever you do, then it is a lot easier for you to have fun. It is easier for me to like my training and be motivated to come in and practice. That is what I say to kids. Value the correct things. If someone tells you it is all about the winning, tell them that they are wrong and move on,” said Snyder.
It was a fantastic year for Snyder. At age 20, Snyder became the youngest wrestling gold medalist in U.S. history during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Earlier in the year, Snyder defeated two-time champion Nick Gwiazdowski of NC State to claim the NCAA heavyweight title for Ohio State, in what is generally regarded as the greatest NCAA heavyweight final ever.
The AAU Sullivan Award has been presented annually since 1930 to the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. Representatives from the AAU created the Sullivan Award with the intent to recognize contributions and achievements across the country of amateur athletes.
Only three wrestlers have previously won the James E. Sullivan Award, Olympic champions John Smith (1990), Bruce Baumgartner (1995) and Rulon Gardner (2000).
The five other finalists who were recognized during the banquet were USA Gymnastics Olympic gold medalists Laurie Hernandez and Aly Raisman, USA Shooting Olympic gold medalist and West Virginia Mountaineers collegiate champion Ginny Thrasher, USA Judo Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison and USA Water Polo Olympic gold medalist Ashleigh Johnson.
As part of the day in New York, Snyder and the other Sullivan Award finalists were special guests of the Empire State Building, and had a personal tour which took them to the top of one of the world’s most famous urban landmarks.
Originally, there were 18 Sullivan Award semifinalists, which also included Olympic women’s freestyle wrestling gold medalist Helen Maroulis. Fans were included in the voting through an on-line process, first during the semifinal stage, and then when the field was reduced to the six finalists.
Kyle Snyder’s 2016 Achievements
• 2016 Olympic gold medalist at 97 kg in men's freestyle wrestling in Rio
• Youngest U.S. Olympic wrestling champion ever at age 20
• 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials champion at 97 kg, beating 2012 Olympic champion Jake Varner in the Championship Series
• 2016 NCAA champion for Ohio State in New York City, N.Y., defeating two-time NCAA champion Nick Gwiazdowski of NC State in the finals, generally regarded as the greatest NCAA heavyweight final ever
• Freestyle World Cup champion with a perfect 4-0 record in the dual meets representing Team USA
• Third in the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix in Russia, regarded as the toughest Open international freestyle event of the year
• Third in the German Grand Prix in Germany
• Third in the Medved International in Minsk, Belarus
2016 Olympic freestyle wrestling champions Kyle Snyder was one of seven finalists honored this evening, as the prestigious AAU James E. Sullivan Award was awarded this evening at the world-famous New York Athletic Club in New York City.
Receiving the James E. Sullivan Award was Wisconsin volleyball star Lauren Carlini, the first volleyball player to win the award in its 87 year history.
"It was an honor to be selected as one of seven finalists for the AAU James E. Sullivan Award. It was a great event, and I hope to come back in the future. Lauren is a worthy recipient of this award and I want to congratulate her and her family for achieving such a high level of success. The best of luck to her and all of her endeavors," said Snyder after the banquet.
Snyder was introduced as part of the banquet ceremony, and had an opportunity to give his advice to young people who are involved in sports.
“My advice is to make sure you are having fun. The best way to do that is by valuing the correct things. Winning and accolades, all that stuff you really can’t control. But, if you find value in your work ethic and in your positivity and how well you can perform at whatever you do, then it is a lot easier for you to have fun. It is easier for me to like my training and be motivated to come in and practice. That is what I say to kids. Value the correct things. If someone tells you it is all about the winning, tell them that they are wrong and move on,” said Snyder.
It was a fantastic year for Snyder. At age 20, Snyder became the youngest wrestling gold medalist in U.S. history during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Earlier in the year, Snyder defeated two-time champion Nick Gwiazdowski of NC State to claim the NCAA heavyweight title for Ohio State, in what is generally regarded as the greatest NCAA heavyweight final ever.
The AAU Sullivan Award has been presented annually since 1930 to the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. Representatives from the AAU created the Sullivan Award with the intent to recognize contributions and achievements across the country of amateur athletes.
Only three wrestlers have previously won the James E. Sullivan Award, Olympic champions John Smith (1990), Bruce Baumgartner (1995) and Rulon Gardner (2000).
The five other finalists who were recognized during the banquet were USA Gymnastics Olympic gold medalists Laurie Hernandez and Aly Raisman, USA Shooting Olympic gold medalist and West Virginia Mountaineers collegiate champion Ginny Thrasher, USA Judo Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison and USA Water Polo Olympic gold medalist Ashleigh Johnson.
As part of the day in New York, Snyder and the other Sullivan Award finalists were special guests of the Empire State Building, and had a personal tour which took them to the top of one of the world’s most famous urban landmarks.
Originally, there were 18 Sullivan Award semifinalists, which also included Olympic women’s freestyle wrestling gold medalist Helen Maroulis. Fans were included in the voting through an on-line process, first during the semifinal stage, and then when the field was reduced to the six finalists.
Kyle Snyder’s 2016 Achievements
• 2016 Olympic gold medalist at 97 kg in men's freestyle wrestling in Rio
• Youngest U.S. Olympic wrestling champion ever at age 20
• 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials champion at 97 kg, beating 2012 Olympic champion Jake Varner in the Championship Series
• 2016 NCAA champion for Ohio State in New York City, N.Y., defeating two-time NCAA champion Nick Gwiazdowski of NC State in the finals, generally regarded as the greatest NCAA heavyweight final ever
• Freestyle World Cup champion with a perfect 4-0 record in the dual meets representing Team USA
• Third in the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix in Russia, regarded as the toughest Open international freestyle event of the year
• Third in the German Grand Prix in Germany
• Third in the Medved International in Minsk, Belarus
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