Helen Maroulis Becomes First U.S. Woman to Qualify for Three Olympic Wrestling Teams

On April 20, 2024, Helen Maroulis made history by becoming the first U.S. female wrestler to qualify for three Olympic teams. The 32-year-old Maroulis defeated Jacarra Winchester in the 57 kg category at the U.S. Olympic wrestling trials in State College, Pennsylvania to earn her spot on the American team for the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.

Maroulis, the first American woman to win an Olympic wrestling gold medal, dominated Winchester in a best-of-three series. She pinned Winchester in the first match in 2:41 and then shut her out 6-0 in the second match to clinch the series sweep. Winchester, the 2019 world champion at 55 kg, was originally slated to wrestle at 53 kg but had to move up to 57 kg after not making the lower weight.

With this victory, Maroulis adds to her impressive Olympic resume. She captured a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and earned a bronze at 57 kg in Tokyo in 2021, becoming the first U.S. woman wrestler to win two Olympic medals. Maroulis will now have the opportunity to become the first American woman to win three Olympic wrestling medals when she competes in Paris this summer.

Why this matters: Maroulis' historic achievement highlights the growth and progress of women's wrestling in the United States. Her success on the international stage serves as an inspiration for aspiring female wrestlers and emphasizes the increasing opportunities for women in the sport.

All six women who earned spots on the U.S. Olympic wrestling team on Saturday qualified directly for the tournament in Paris, avoiding the need to compete in an international qualifying event. Notable teammates joining Maroulis include Amit Elor, who at age 18 will become the youngest U.S. Olympic female wrestler in history, and Sarah Hildebrandt, who qualified for her second straight Olympics at 50 kg.

Key Takeaways

• Helen Maroulis becomes 1st US female wrestler to qualify for 3 Olympics.
• Maroulis defeats Jacarra Winchester to earn spot on 2024 US Olympic team.
• Maroulis is 1st American woman to win 2 Olympic wrestling medals (gold, bronze).
• 6 US female wrestlers qualified directly for 2024 Paris Olympics, avoiding qualifiers.
• Maroulis' achievement highlights growth of women's wrestling in the US.