I wish we were related, yet my brother from another mother Jordan Burroughs is most likely not of this planet, at least work ethic wise! Jordan cut through the competition that started in April with 222 potential Olympians, and that has been cut down to the decided 16 wrestlers going to England next month.
Sadly wrestling is one of the most poorly funded sports in the Olympics, and all of combat sports. Check out Lex Fridman’s blog post from the other day where he compared salaries of the major players in combat sports (who the hell knew you could make a million dollars in sponsorship in Judo!?!?!?!?)
- Boxing: Floyd Mayweather at $85,000,000
- MMA: Rashad Evans at $710,000
- Freestyle/Greco-Roman Wrestling: $0 (unless they medal, then some countries give bonuses. Russia is highest with $100,000 bonus for gold)
- Judo: Teddy Riner was paid $100K without sponsors and then sponsors bring that up to a about $1,000,000.
- Jiu Jitsu: ADCC pays $40,000 to the superfight winner. World Pro pays $30,000 to the winner of the absolute and $8,000 to the winner of the division. Ultimate Absolute pays $10,000 to first place. So someone like Andre Galvao who won almost all of these prizes, could earn $88,000 a year.
Click here to read the entire post. 
I mean… wrestling is one of the oldest sports in all of humanity let alone the Olympics. One of the founding events was wrestling. How is it we devalue grappling so much in our culture? I am hoping that the mass popularity Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has enjoyed will bolster all grappling styles and rekindle an emphasis on grappling in our culture. Personally I believe our young Americans can use a little toughening up. We have become a weak society poisoning ourselves with toxic fuel, and relying on pity to excuse ourselves from hard work and ownership of our mental, emotional, and physical well being. Grappling in all of it’s expressions hones and strengthens all of these aspects. The mat forces us to face our fears, our weaknesses, constantly pressure testing our mental meddle and willingness to face reality.
Thanks to The Mat for the following list of 2012 USA Team Members:
Greco-Roman
55 kg/121 lbs. – Spenser Mango, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Ellis Coleman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Justin Lester, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Ben Provisor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Chas Betts, Coloardo Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
Men’s freestyle
55 kg/121 lbs. – Sam Hazewinkel, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Jared Frayer, Norman, Okla. (Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Jake Herbert, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Jake Varner, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Tervel Dlagnev, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids)
Women’s freestyle
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Kelsey Campbell, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. – Stephany Lee, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
Potential Olympians in weight classes not yet qualified for Olympics
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Greco-Roman
2011 World Team member – Justin Ruiz, Orem, Utah (New York AC)
2012 Olympic Trials champion – RC Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Men’s freestyle
2011 World Team member – Reece Humphrey, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC)
2011 World Team runner-up – Shawn Bunch, Columbus, Ohio (Gator WC)
2012 Olympic Trials champion – Coleman Scott, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
And if this video of Jordan training does not get your blood pumping then I suggest you call a cardiologist!
