Gable Steveson named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week

Gable Steveson after winning his second-straight Cadet World title in Tbilisi, Georgia. Photo: Alireza Akbari, United World Wrestling.

Gable Steveson (Apple Valley, Minn.) has been selected as TheMat.com Athlete of the Week on Sept. 14, 2016.


Last Sunday, Steveson made history by winning his second-straight gold medal at the Cadet World Championships, joining teammate Yianni Diakomihalis as the only two wrestlers in U.S. history to do so.


Competing at 100 kg/220 lbs., Steveson won four matches at the Cadet Worlds held at New Sports Palace in Tbilisi, Georgia, outscoring his opponents 32-2, while not surrendering a single takedown on his road to gold.


Steveson won a physical 5-1 battle over Russian foe Adam Beterbiev in the championship match. Early in the first Beterbiev ran Steveson off the raised finals platform to take a 1-0 lead, but that was all the Russian could muster. Steveson went on to score a takedown, turn and step out, controlling the remainder of the bout.


Prior to the finals, Steveson pitched shutout technical fall wins over Ashot Rushanyan of Armenia and Samed Kurban of Turkey prior to topping Cadet Asian bronze medalist Viky Viky of India in the semifinals, 5-1. 


Steveson is a two-time Minnesota high school state champion entering his Junior year at the tradition-rich Apple Valley program. He topped the standings at the USA Wrestling Junior Folkstyle Nationals this year, and was a USA Wrestling Cadet Freestyle Nationals champion in 2015.


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.