Kyle Dake Claims Second Olympic Bronze Medal

They say the true measure of a champion is how they bounce back from a loss. Unfortunately, Kyle Dake was in that position Saturday as he wrestled for a bronze medal in the 74 kg men’s freestyle tournament at the 2024 Olympic Games. 

Dake, a 2020 Olympic bronze medalist, was considered the favorite to come away with an elusive Olympic gold medal heading into Paris. Those thoughts only increased after a pair of dominating performances in the first two rounds. During Friday’s final session, Dake was shocked by Japan’s Daichi Takatani to the tune of 20-12. It was a stunning result that Dake was beaten, but equally unbelievable was the fact that someone put up 20 points on the normally stingy American. 

That was yesterday and Dake was one win away from a bronze medal on Saturday.

Standing between Dake and his second Olympic medal was fellow veteran Khetag Tsabalov of Serbia. Tsabalov was a 2014 world champion for Russia but has since transferred to Serbia. 

Dake got on the scoreboard first with a single leg that led to a long flurry which ended when he grabbed a body lock and Tsabalov stepped out of bounds. 

Tsabalov was put on the shot clock in the second period and got to Dake’s leg, which led to one of his famous chest wrap attempts. In the process, Dake was called for a step-out to put Tsabalov on the board, 1-1. 

Tsabalov then got a takedown which led to an unusual challenge. Dake repeatedly told the officials that they weren’t looking at the right situation. That meant he did not win the challenge and then faced a 4-1 deficit with under a minute remaining. 

During the first five-plus minutes of competition, Dake had difficulty getting to his offense. He erupted post-challenge with a takedown and then a five-point move that shifted the balance of power to the American. Dake would hold on for a 10-4 win and his second Olympic medal. 

Though Dake didn’t get his ultimate goal, he got “the next best thing” - which is something that wrestling coaches always stress after a loss. At 33 years old, it’s a legitimate question whether we’ve seen the last of Dake on the wrestling mat. Four years until the next Olympic Games is a long time. 

That’s another story for another day, as longtime rival Jordan Burroughs stated during the 74 kg medal ceremony, Kyle Dake has had one of the best careers in American wrestling history. Two Olympic bronze medals to go along with four world titles, not to mention his four titles at four different weights in college at Cornell.