Former Husker rebounds from Olympic disappointment with record-tying sixth championship
Former Husker Jordan Burroughs claimed a fifth world wrestling title Monday at the 2021 World Wrestling Championships in Olso, Norway. The victory in the men’s freestyle 79 kg final came just months after the 2012 Olympic gold medalist missed out on a berth to the Tokyo Olympic Games.
In Monday's final, Burroughs defeated Iranian Mohammad Nokhodi, 5-1. Burroughs took an early 3-0 lead with a double-leg takedown followed closely by another double.
The gold medal ties Burroughs with John Smith’s U.S. record of six World and Olympic gold medals combined. Burroughs previously won world titles in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017, in addition to his Olympic triumph in London.
After Burroughs failed to qualify for this year’s Tokyo Olympics, there was speculation that he would retire. Instead, he moved up from the 74kg weight class to the 79 kg division.
At 70 kg, fellow former Husker James Green lost a hard-fought match in the quarterfinals to Azerbaijan's Turan Bayramov 6-5 and was eliminated from competition.
Burroughs’ medal was the second gold of the day for the United States. Former Omaha Skutt and Iowa wrestler Thomas Gilman defeated Iran’s Alireza Sarlak in the 57 kg championship match.
Burroughs in Oslo
- Qualification: Burroughs tech. Sam Barmish (CAN), 10-0
- Round of 16: Burroughs def. Bolat Sakayev (KAZ) by forfeit
- Quarterfinals: Burroughs def. Radik Valiev (ROC), 9-4
- Semifinals: Burroughs def. Ryuki Yoshida (JPN), 10-1
- Gold Medal Match: Burroughs def. Mohammad Nokhodilarimi (IRI), 5-1
Green in Oslo
- Qualification: James Green tech. Seungchul Lee (KOR), 10-0
- Round of 16: James Green tech. Shamil Ustaev (GER), 10-0
- Quarterfinals: Turan Bayramov (AZE) def. James Green, 6-5
