One of the top wrestlers in the United States and the world is training with an eye towards defending his back-to-back gold medals at the Pan American Games.
Those who watch Kyle Snyder wrestle are witnessing a master at their craft. HIs technical prowess on the mat has led to tremendous success, having represented the United States at the top of nearly every wrestling tournament he competes in.
At just 27-years-old, Snyder is already an Olympic champion and two-time medalist, a three-time world champion, three-time NCAA champion and is undefeated in the five Pan American Championships he has competed in since 2017.
Now, after dominating the competition at the Pan American Games of Toronto 2015 and Lima 2019, Kyle sets his sights on capturing a third consecutive gold at the continent’s greatest multisport event — the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.
When he arrives in the Chilean capital this October, Kyle will be undefeated in his career at the Games and has only surrendered a total of seven points across his six matches. Kyle also boasts an incredible 156-13 overall record in his international career.
Wins numbers 146 to 148 came at the 2022 Pan American Championships held in Acapulco, Mexico last May as he cruised to his fifth 97kg continental title. He surrendered just one point to Arturo Silot of Cuba in the final, winning his matches in technical finishes of 10-0, 11-0 and 12-1.
Snyder’s victory in Acapulco secured his qualification to Santiago 2023 alongside Silot, Luis Miguel Perez of the Dominican Republic and Maxwell Lacey of Costa Rica who rounded out the podium in Mexico.
Wrestlers of the Americas have one more chance to qualify for the Games at the 2023 Pan American Championships set to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina this May 3-6. The top four athletes in each of the weight classes will earn their country a spot at the Games if another athlete has not already qualified for them already.
As one of Team USA’s top wrestlers, Snyder will likely claim his sixth continental championship at the competition in Argentina before setting his sights on another Pan American Games crown in Santiago this October.
After Santiago, Kyle will begin preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympics where he’ll look to reclaim the Olympic throne he won at Rio 2016 before relinquishing the gold to rival Abdulrashid Sadulaev of Russia at Tokyo 2020.
Don’t miss Kyle Snyder on his quest to claim his third consecutive Pan American Games gold medal at Santiago 2023!
