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Tervel Dlagnev of Team USA receives his 2012 Olympic bronze medal in Olympic Medal Reallocation Ceremony in Lincoln, Neb.

by Tony Black, USA Wrestling

Tervel Dlagnev (Team USA) shows off his 2012 Olympic bronze medal during the Olympic Medal Reallocation Ceremony in Lincoln, Neb., Photo by Scott Bruhn courtesy of the USOPC.


Tervel Dlagnev of Team USA received his bronze medal from the Olympic Games London 2012 at 120 kg. in men’s freestyle wrestling in an Olympic Medal Reallocation Ceremony today in Lincoln, Nebraska.


The ceremony was held at Pinnacle Bank Arena, just prior to the final session of the 2022 Big Ten Conference Wrestling Championships. The University of Nebraska played host to the event for the first time since joining the conference in 2012. Dlagnev serves an assistant wrestling coach at the University of Nebraska, the host institution.


This Olympic Medal Reallocation Ceremony, approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and conducted under its specifications, was presented by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), the National Olympic Committee for the United States.


Also partnering in the Olympic Medal Reallocation Ceremony for Tervel Dlagnev were USA Wrestling, the Big Ten Conference and the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.


An official medal ceremony was conducted, and Dlagnev was introduced to the large crowd at Pinnacle Bank Arena, walking into the arena in his 2012 U.S. Olympic podium uniform.


The 2012 Olympic bronze medal was presented to Dlagnev by Anita DeFrantz, member of the International Olympic Commiittee and a member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Board of Directors. DeFrantz was an Olympic bronze medalist in the sport of rowing.


Also part of the ceremony, presenting his official Olympic ceremonial flowers was Rich Bender, USA Wrestling’s Executive Director and member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Board of Directors.


Dlagnev stood at attention on the podium as the Olympic Anthem was played in its entirety. When the music ended, fans in Pinnacle Bank Arena chanted USA-USA in his honor.


Dlagnev was able to have his entire family in attendance join him on the Olympic medal platform for pictures, before he left the arena to additional applause from the audience.


Dlagnev was a member of both the 2012 and 2016 U.S. Olympic Teams. In addition to his bronze medal from the 2012 Olympic Games, which he is received today, Dlagnev placed fifth at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. Dlagnev is also a two-time world bronze medalist, a two-time NCAA Div. II champion and four-time All-American for the University of Nebraska-Kearney. Dlagnev attended high school in Arlington, Texas.


As part of the #OlympiansMadeHere program, the Big Ten Conference will also recognized Olympic wrestling medalists who are either current Big Ten student-athletes or currently serve as a coach for a Big Ten wrestling program. #OlympiansMadeHere celebrates the strong connection between NCAA athletics and the U.S. Olympic Movement. The Big Ten is respected as the strongest Div. I college wrestling conference and has produced numerous Olympic and world championship medalists in wrestling.