Wrestling fans couldn’t have asked for a better start to the year! As the road to Paris receives more footfall, American wrestlers continue to showcase their claim to fame. 6-times world champion Jordan Burroughs awed fans only days ago with his moves and now, he looks to begin the Olympic year in style in Zagreb, Croatia. The Zagreb Open has a treat planned for the fans and Burroughs is set to return on the mat in his weight class.

2023 brought a lot of gifts for Burroughs to add to his exploits as he dominated his opponents at the Kunaev DA International Tournament in Kazakhstan. While the event sparked many debates about wrestlers competing out of their weight class, it looks like Burroughs has eyes to establish his reign in the 74kg category once again.

Jordan Burroughs returns to his old block

The United World Wrestling set the stage by announcing the entry list for the Zagreb Open. And it looks like the 2012 London Olympic gold medalist is determined to boost his rankings as the 2024 Paris Olympics beckons later this year. In Kazakhstan, Burroughs competed in the 74kg weight class after having made his mark in the 79kg division. However, according to the list, Burroughs seems convinced that stepping down a lower weight category would help his career reach new heights.

Burrough’s Olympic gold in 2012 came in the 74kg class itself before he went on to rub shoulders with the big boys in the higher category. From the recently published list, it looks like he’s once again aiming to repeat his feat twelve years later by returning to his former stomping grounds. Even in the 2023 PanAm Games, Burroughs competed and won gold as a 79kg wrestler, but with the Olympic Games fast approaching, he seems to shift gears eyeing another medal on the grandest stage.

Jordan will be joining fellow American and Penn State’s Nittany Lions Wrestling Club member Jason Nolf in the 74kg weight class. Apart from Burroughs, there is no lack of talent in the tournament.

A star-studded line-up

UWW’s list boasts multiple names from the USA who have fans rallying behind them as the Zagreb Open looks to bring some thrilling action for the lovers of the sport. Thomas Gilman (57), Kyle Snyder (97), Mason Parris (125), and others will be locking horns in freestyle wrestling at Zagreb.

Read more: Olympic Champion Helen Maroulis, Amidst Brain Injury PTSD, Takes Center Stage With 5 Other Americans in UWW’s Year-End Rankings

On the other hand, the women’s freestyle event would see Jacarra Winchester (53) and Helen Maroulis (57) among many others hoping to start their journey to Paris on a high note. Maroulis has been battling PTSD from a horrific brain injury suffered in 2018 and will be going all in before the Olympics.

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