UI Athletics news release
ISTANBUL, Turkey – Former University of Iowa wrestler Spencer Lee has qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France by going 4-0 at the World Olympic Games Qualifier.
Lee defeated Ben Tarik of Morocco via technical superiority in just 22 seconds, securing a takedown before locking up four exposures in a leg lace to put the match away.
The Murrysville, Pennsylvania, native then faced top-seeded Wanhao Zou of China. Lee trailed 6-2 early before a takedown and three leg lace exposures gave him a 10-6 lead at the break. Zou would get a push-out point and a late takedown with 12 seconds remaining, but Lee held off the comeback attempt in par terre to win, 10-9.
In his third match of the day Lee used 53 seconds to secure the technical superiority over Vladimir Egorov of Macedonia, 12-2.
In the qualification match, the three-time NCAA champion, defeated Rakhat Kalzhan of Kazakhstan in just 36 seconds. Lee used a takedown and turned Kalzhan four times to secure his spot at the Olympics.
Lee will become the 20th Hawkeye to be an Olympian when he competes in Paris. The most recent Hawkeye to compete at the Olympics was Thomas Gilman (Tokyo, 2020). Gilman won bronze for the United States.