'Outcast' Jordan Burroughs has a point to prove at 2024 World Championships
The wrestling Olympic gold medallist and six-time world champion delivered a message to his detractors at trials, now he wants to go the whole way in Tirana, Albania.
Wrestling
Jordan Burroughs has answered those that disrespected him in the most Jordan Burroughs way.
Despite being one of United States' most successful wrestlers ever, the London 2012 Olympic champion was jeered by some fans as he left the floor after his Day 1 exit at the Olympic Trials in April.
Many people believed it was time for the 36-year-old to retire. But he had other ideas.
Last month Burroughs put on a masterclass to win the U.S. World Team Trials, reminding everyone of his class.
“This has been a hard six months for me. I wasn’t sure if I was going to continue to wrestle,” a visibly emotional Burroughs told USA Wrestling after his win.
“Every day is trying to battle back from my experience at Penn State, from their fans, from their coaches, their wrestlers. Feeling like an outcast in a sport that I helped build. So this is very satisfying for me.
“I got a lot to fight for. People who count on me not only to win but to be at my best. Show them that you can persevere and be resilient in any circumstance.
“Even when I hated wrestling and hated the way I was treated, I focused on staying diligent in my habits. That way I could decide on my future in the sport and not have it made for me by my body. Everyone in that arena in State College, they thought that they killed me. They couldn’t. I’m too resilient.”
Burroughs travels to Tirana, Albania, later this month for the non-Olympic weight World Championships as the 79kg favourite, having won that category in 2021 and 2022.
Should he be successful, the New Jersey native will win a seventh world title overall.
In his way stands a stacked field headed up by Mohammad Nokhodi, who will be keen to avenge his losses to the U.S. athlete in 2021 and 2022.
The Islamic Republic of Iran wrestler has been undefeated since the 2023 Worlds and at just 23 years old, may feel that he finally has the required experience to go all the way.
Magomed Magomaev also poses Burroughs a significant threat.
The 24-year-old two-time U23 World Champion dominated 2023 world champion Akhmed Usmanov at the 2024 Yarygin.
Similarly to Burroughs, Magomaev is an aggressive, offensive wrestler, but he will have to match the more experienced athlete’s supreme conditioning to stand a chance of winning.
Jordan Burroughs more comfortable at 79kg
Regardless of what happens in Albania, it is unlikely that we will see Burroughs compete at 74kg again.
The weight cut is becoming harder with age, and victory at 79kg may convince him to keep competing in that division.
An additional motivation is the USA Wrestling tradition where World Championships medallists are given a bye into the finals of the following year’s trials.
“In 2024, I had to make the weight cut all the way down to 74 kilos,” Burroughs said per NBC Sports.
“It’s extremely difficult. My body really couldn’t hold up, couldn’t compete the way that I wanted. After this year is trying to figure out what’s next for me.”
Burroughs’ mindset can be summarised by a heartfelt post he made on social media following his win at the World Team Trials.
He recounted a conversation he had with a high school student, who approached him after practice and asked what it took to be the best in the world.
This is how he answered:
"You work your butt off every single day. You never stop improving, and you listen to your coaches and push your teammates to be better themselves. You seek out challenges and avoid distractions. You fall in love with the process and show up to work every day excited for the opportunity. You operate with honour and courage in everything you do. That’s what it takes."
"There are no guarantees in this sport. Sacrifice is the price of admission, and hard work just gets you a seat at the table. Keep grinding, and you just may keep your seat long enough to earn that title.”
Burroughs lived and breathed those words in the aftermath of his Olympic Trials loss, and the results speak for themselves.
Whatever happens in Albania, the message is clear. Never rule Burroughs out.