21 Facts About Spencer Lee

Spencer Richard Lee was born on October 14,1998 and is an American freestyle and former folkstyle wrestler who competes at 57 kilograms.

In folkstyle, Lee won the James E Sullivan Award and the Dan Hodge Trophy twice, as well as three NCAA Division I national championships out of the University of Iowa.

Spencer Lee was born in Denver, Colorado, but grew up in Saegertown, Pennsylvania before moving to Murrysville, where he attended Franklin Regional High School.

Spencer Lee initially competed under a redshirt during his first year of collegiate wrestling, winning the UNI Open and placing sixth at the Midland Championships before having it pulled and competing as a true freshman instead.

At the NCAA championships, Spencer Lee had an outstanding run into the finals, where he defeated undefeated-in-the-season Nick Suriano to claim his first national championship.

In December 2019, Spencer Lee made his senior-level debut, becoming the US National champion in freestyle and qualifying for the US Olympic Team Trials with notable wins over eventual World champion Vito Arujau and NCAA champions Darian Cruz and Nathan Tomasello.

Spencer Lee was named the Big Ten Wrestler of the Year after outscoring the opposition 234 to 18.

The US Olympic Team Trials, where Spencer Lee was set to compete in, were delayed for 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spencer Lee then pinned all of his opponents in the first period during regular season, grabbed his second Big Ten title and became a three-time NCAA champion, dominating everyone throughout the season.

Spencer Lee later revealed he had torn his left ACL eight days before the tournament to match a torn right ACL suffered in the 2019 NCAA finals.

Spencer Lee was then named the Dan Hodge Trophy winner for the second straight time, along with Gable Steveson.

Spencer Lee was repeated as the Big Ten Wrestler of the Year.

Spencer Lee was then set to compete at the US Olympic Team Trials in freestyle he opted against participating due to his knee injuries.

Since the NCAA granted athletes an extra year of eligibility after the 2020 season was cut short, Spencer Lee was set to compete in his last year of collegiate wrestling.

Spencer Lee started off his final year of folkstyle wrestling undefeated in dual action and claiming the Soldier Salute and Big Ten titles.

At the NCAA tournament, where he was looking for a fourth national title, Spencer Lee cruised to the semifinals, where he faced Matt Ramos, whom he had previously pinned at a dual meet.

Spencer Lee racked up dominant wins over the likes of Commonwealth Games medalist Muhammad Bilal and U20 World silver medalist Luke Lilledahl to make the finals, where he defeated NCAA and US Open champion Nico Megaludis to claim gold and qualify for the 2024 US Olympic Trials.

Spencer Lee defeated Gilman twice in a row to become the US Olympic Team Member at 57 kilograms.

Spencer Lee then competed at the World Qualification Tournament, in an attempt to qualify the weight for the United States and earn the right to compete at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Spencer Lee lost the bout on points, marking the second loss in his career.

Spencer Lee's mother, Cathy, was a French Olympic alternate judoka and his father, Larry, practiced the sport.