Spencer Lee won four matches to make the finals at the World Olympic Games Qualifier in Istanbul, Turkey to qualify Team USA at 57kg for the Olympics. A top three finish was required to qualify Team USA at 57kg.
Lee is now officially an Olympian. He will be the 20th Iowa Hawkeye to represent Team USA at the Olympics. The 2024 Olympic Games are in Paris, France on August 5-11.
I doubt the finals match will take place. The spot in the Olympics is secured and Lee looks healthy. Mission accomplished.
I have stated in two previous blogs that this tournament was good for Lee. Traveling halfway around the world to a far off place like Istanbul, Turkey, making weight, and competing against world class wrestlers will only make him better.
This is great momentum to lead into the Olympic training camps.
The only close match was in the second round vs. Wanhao Zou (China) where Lee was behind 6-2 before a takedown and ankle lace gave him the lead. Lee gave up a late takedown and held on 10-9 in a close match.
The other three matches? As I have said for years on this blog:
Spencer Lee is…Spencer Lee.
A quick takedown to a series of turns for a quick tech fall was the game plan. In the first match Lee won by a tech fall in just :22. In the Quarterfinals he scored the tech fall in :53 seconds.
With the Olympic spot on the line in the semifinals Lee scored a 10-0 tech fall over Rakhat Kalzhan (Kazakhstan) in just :36.
Who scores quick tech falls like that against elite International competition? Spencer Lee.
Congratulations Spencer Lee on qualifying Team USA for the Olympics.
Now go get the Gold.
World Olympic Games Qualifier in Istanbul, Turkey
Rd 1: Spencer Lee (USA) 10-0 tech fall Ben Tarik (Morocco) :22
Rd of 16: Spencer Lee (USA) over Wanhao Zou (China) 10-9
Quarterfinals: Spencer Lee (USA) 12-2 tech fall Vladimir Egorov of Macedonia :53
Semifinals: Spencer Lee (USA) 10-0 tech fall Rakhat Kalzhan (Kazakhstan) :36
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
