Kyle Snyder rebounds to claim gold at wrestling World Championships after Olympics loss

NCAA wrestling legend conquers World Championships

by Damon Martin

Sep 17, 2025

Olympic champion Kyle Snyder returned to the top of the sport of wrestling after claiming his fourth gold medal at the World Championships being held in Croatia.

On Tuesday, Snyder defeated Amir Ali Azarpira from Iran with a 4-2 score in the finals at 97 kg to win the gold medal. That victory avenged Snyder’s loss from the 2024 Olympics, when he fell 4-1 to Azarpira in the bronze medal match.

That loss capped off Snyder’s first appearance at the Olympics, which didn’t end with a medal around his neck after he claimed gold in 2016 and then won silver in 2020.

Snyder also avenged a past loss to Asian champion Arash Yoshida from Japan, who defeated the American at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series tournament back in February. The win over Yoshida punched Snyder’s ticket to the finals where he defeated Azarpira.

The victory at the wrestling World Championships comes after a tumultuous year for the former Ohio State wrestler after his name landed in the headlines in May when he was arrested as part of a prostitution sting in Columbus.

Snyder eventually pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct and paid a fine while also attending a “John school,” which is an educational course for those arrested on prostitution charges.

“I’ve learned a lot through this process,” Snyder said during his appearance in court. “It taught me a lot about myself and I plan on making much better decisions.”

Recognized as one of the greatest American wrestlers of all time, Snyder previously captured gold medals at the World Championships in 2015, 2017 and 2022 in addition to his two medals at past Olympic games. Snyder is also a three-time NCAA wrestling champion.

Source :  https://www.mmafighting.com/latest-news/404414/kyle-snyder-rebounds-to-claim-gold-at-wrestling-world-championships-after-olympics-loss-arrest