Burroughs Olympic medal hopes come to an end after shocking second loss

Jordan Burroughs (USA) fights for a takedown on Bekzod Abdurakhmonov (UZB) in the 74 kg repechage match. Photo: Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com.

RIO DE JANEIRO – A somber day for the U.S. men’s freestyle team concluded unexpectedly early inside Carioca Arena 2 on Friday. The medal matches at 57 kg and 74 kg have been set, but neither Jordan Burroughs nor Daniel Dennis will participate.


The top ranked 74 kg wrestler in the world, Burroughs was edged in the quarterfinals by World No. 2 Aniuar Geduev of Russia, 3-2. After Geduev made the finals Burroughs was given new life and bronze medal hopes. Those aspirations would be dashed in his repechage match against 2014 World bronze medalist Bekzod Abdurakhmonov of Uzbekistan.


It was not the Burroughs the world is used to seeing as he took center mat with a spot in the bronze match on the line. Abdurakhmonov controlled the match from start to finish, scoring five takedowns on the reigning Olympic champion to win, 11-1.


“It was a tough day,” Burroughs said. “I had a lot of expectations coming in here. I wanted to win. I knew I was capable of winning. Sometimes things don’t go according to plan. I am a man of faith. Something good will come out of this. It is difficult. I lost a lot of things today. My integrity and my character remain. I am hoping I can go back, re-evaluate my career, my abilities and what I did wrong today. I have a lot to work on.”


Today marks the first time Burroughs has not medaled in a World Championships or Olympic Games since he first stepped foot on the senior level stage in 2011. He remains one of the greatest champions in U.S. wrestling history with three World titles, one Olympic gold and a World bronze to his name.


“I love the sport of wrestling because it is a testament of your growth, what you are capable of, what you can do as a man. And as nervous and afraid as I was coming into this tournament, I was equally as confident and prepared. I have always made my goals public. The hard thing about being an Olympian is that your failures are public, too,” he continued.


Dennis was eliminated from medal contention in the morning session after a 11-1 loss to Bulgaria’s Vladimir Dubov.


For the U.S. men’s freestyle contingent competition will resume at 9 a.m. (ET) on Saturday with World No. 9 J’den Cox going at 86 kg and two-time World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev entered at 125 kg.


Every match from the 2016 Olympic Games can be viewed live courtesy of NBC at NBCOlympics.com. Complete brackets and match-by-match results can be found at unitedworldwrestling.org.


2016 OLYMPIC GAMES

Aug. 14-21 at Carioca Arena 2 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Finals Matchups

57 kg/125.5 lbs.

Gold – Vladimer Khinchegahsvili (Georgia) vs. Rei Higuchi (Japan)

Bronze – Vladimir Dubov (Bulgaria) vs. Haji Aliev (Azerbaijan)

Bronze – Hassan Rahimi (Iran) vs. Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez (Cuba)

74 kg/163 lbs.

Gold – Aniuar Geduev (Russia) vs. Hassan Yazdanicharati (Iran)

Bronze – Yabrail Hasanov (Azerbaijan) vs. Bekzod Abdurakhmanov (Uzbekistan)

Bronze – Galimzhan Usserbaev (Kazakhstan) vs. Soener Demirtas (Turkey)

U.S. men’s freestyle results

57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Daniel Dennis, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC/Hawkeye WC)

LOSS Vladimir Dubov (Bulgaria), 11-0


74 kg/163 lbs. – Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids/Nebraska WTC)

WIN Augusto Midana (Guinea Bissau), 8-3

LOSS Aniuar Geduev (Russia), 3-2

LOSS Bekzod Abdurakhmonov (Uzbekistan), 11-1