Jordan Burroughs named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week

Jordan Burroughs (USA) awarded the 74 kg gold medal at the Yasar Dogu International in Istanbul, Turkey.

Jordan Burroughs (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids) has been selected as TheMat.com Athlete of the Week on Feb. 8, 2016.


Burroughs added to his ever growing collection of international gold medals after dominating the 74 kg/163 lbs. field at the 2016 Yasar Dogu International in Istanbul, Turkey on Saturday.


This was the first time Burroughs has competed since the 2015 World Championships last Sept., and the three-time World champion and Olympic champion did not skip a beat.


Burroughs won three of his four matches by technical fall including a decisive 14-3 victory over Zelmkhan Khadziev of France in the gold medal match. Khadziev finished in fifth place at the 2015 World Championships.


His first two matches were 10-0 technical falls over Pedro Soto of Puerto Rico and Abdullah Arslan of Turkey. Burroughs semi-final was a notch closer as he won 5-0 over Soner Demirtas of Turkey.


Burroughs extended his Senior level record to an astounding 118-2 with his performance in Turkey. He has now captured five World and Olympic medals at 74 kg in the past five years.


He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 2011 after winning two NCAA championships and being awarded the 2011 Dan Hodge Trophy as the nation’s best college wrestler.


Each week USA Wrestling will select an Athlete of the Week based upon performance within wrestling for that week. The selection committee will consider any level of wrestling, from youth programs through the Senior level.


To nominate a wrestler for USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week please send the athlete’s name, wrestling program and weekly and career accomplishments to Richard Immel at rimmel@usawrestling.org.