Spencer Lee earned a spot on the 2024 Olympic team in the 57kg weight class after winning the Olympic Team Trials in State College, Pennsylvania on Saturday. Check out the article below for a breakdown of his tournaments.
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Spencer Lee's Journey: Olympic Trials Finals
Lee started the tournament as the fourth seed in a thick field in the 57kg weight class that included Thomas Gilman, Dayton Fix, Nick Suriano, Zane Richards, Nico Megaldis and a number of young contenders. Lee's first opponent was his Megaludis. These two have fought each other twice in the past six months, with Lee winning both fights by decision. Lee once again defeated Megaldis with a resounding 8-0 victory and advanced to the semi-finals.
In the semifinals, Lee faced 2023 World Team member Zane Richards, who defeated Thomas Gilman last year to make the world team. In Friday night's match, Lee opened up a 9-0 lead before Richards fought back with several takedowns. However, in the end Lee came out on top 13-6 and advanced to the finals against Thomas Gilman.
Spencer Lee defeats Thomas Gilman
The Olympic Trials final is a best-of-three series. That meant Spencer Lee had to defeat Thomas Gilman twice to make the 57kg Olympic team. In the first match, Lee opened up a 5-1 lead with a takedown and two turns. However, the turning point in the game came when Gilman lifted Lee up and tried to score with a 4-point shot from his legs to his back. For some reason Lee declined and Gilman was awarded only two points. Gilman attempted a corner kick but lost, giving Lee a 6-3 lead. The match ended with Lee winning 6-3 in the first round.
The second game played out similarly, with fewer points scored in the first period. Lee took the lead with a shot clock point and a step-out, but Gilman responded with two step-out points of his own to take the lead at the reference point. Lee then forced a double underhook and scored a takedown with a single leg attack. Lee transitioned into a trap arm gut wrench to the right, eventually pinning Gilman to seal the deal in the second match.
Spencer Lee has not yet qualified for the Olympics.
Although he was selected for the Olympic team, Lee is not guaranteed to wrestle at the Paris Olympics because the U.S. team does not qualify for the Olympics in the 57kg weight class. Only 16 wrestlers in each weight class qualify for the Olympics, and wrestlers who finish in the top five at the previous year's world championships or in the top two at the continental qualifiers qualify for their country. Last year, American 57kg representative Zane Richards was unable to compete in the 2023 World Championships and did not advance to the Pan Am qualifying finals, leaving Team USA ineligible for the 57kg division.
To qualify for the Olympics, Spencer Lee will need to finish in the top three at the World Olympic Qualification, which will be held in Istanbul, Turkiye on May 12. This is the final Olympic qualifying round, and unless Lee finishes in the top three, he will not be able to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The field will be fiercely competitive, with several past world medalists vying for an Olympic spot. However, given the way Lee fights this weekend, he will be one of Tolkier's favorites in the 57kg division.
