Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson experienced a shocking upset on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. Competing in the heavyweight final, Steveson, representing the University of Minnesota, lost to Wyatt Hendrickson from Oklahoma State University in a thrilling 5-4 match. The event took place in front of an energized crowd as Hendrickson secured the victory with a dramatic last-minute takedown—remarkably, the only takedown Steveson allowed the entire season.
Following the loss, Steveson shared a heartfelt message on Instagram about his wrestling journey. He thanked University of Minnesota fans, teammates, and coaches, reflecting positively: "Bumps in the road are going to happen—that's what makes sports so crazy. In the end, wins and losses will never define what I tried to do for wrestling. Attraction, viewership, and showmanship always meant the most to me."
Steveson returned to collegiate wrestling for this final year after pursuing multiple ventures beyond the mat. After winning Olympic gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, he signed with the WWE but was later released from his contract. Afterwards, Steveson tried professional football, joining the Buffalo Bills training camp in 2024, though he did not make the team's final roster. Despite interest from the Bills to join their practice squad, Steveson chose instead to wrestle for Minnesota one last time.
Throughout the 2024-2025 collegiate season, Steveson dominated his opponents, capturing another Big Ten title and going unbeaten until this championship loss against Hendrickson. His opponent, Wyatt Hendrickson, is notably a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force who transferred to Oklahoma State to compete after completing his service academy eligibility.
Looking forward, Steveson's future plans remain ambitious. He previously told MMA Fighting about his intentions to return to Olympic wrestling for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, after not participating in the 2024 Paris Olympics due to his WWE commitments. The absence of the Olympic champion noticeably impacted Team USA's freestyle team in 2024, resulting in their first Olympic Games in 56 years without a men's freestyle wrestling gold medal.
Steveson also revealed interest in starting a mixed martial arts (MMA) career. His recent training with UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones—who was preparing for a November 2024 showdown against former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic—renewed his enthusiasm for competing in MMA and potentially making that transition after wrestling.
Steveson concluded his thoughtful Instagram message by addressing both supporters and critics: "To my supporters, I appreciate all the love through my time in collegiate wrestling. To all the doubters and naysayers this year—regardless of how you felt—you still watched, and I thank you for that too."
