Who Is Spencer Lee?
Who Is Spencer Lee?
Get to know 2024 Olympic silver medalist and Iowa's three-time NCAA champion Spencer Lee.
Spencer Lee is one of the most popular and successful wrestlers in U.S. history. He won a silver medal in men’s freestyle wrestling at the 2024 Paris Olympics and was a three-time NCAA champion for the University of Iowa (2018-19, 2021).
A native of Murrysville, Pennsylvania, Lee attended Franklin Regional High School and made waves when he chose the University of Iowa over Penn State. His high school career was the stuff of legend, winning three AAA Pennsylvania state championships and three age-level World titles (2014-16).
Lee was a masterful technician who revolutionized the top game with nearly unstoppable tilts and turns. It wasn’t uncommon for him to secure an early takedown and win by fall or technical fall in the first period.
Injuries plagued Lee during his career. He tore his ACL during practice two months before the 2017 Pennsylvania state championships. Despite the injury, Lee competed at state, falling to future Iowa teammate Austin DeSanto (Exeter Township) in a thrilling final where DeSanto earned a last-second takedown, denying Lee his fourth state title.
In college, Lee tore both his ACLs and won the 2021 NCAA title after tearing his left ACL eight days prior. He wrestled three matches during the 2021-22 season before taking an injury hardship year after posting a 3-0 record.
Lee became Iowa’s seventh three-time NCAA champion and the first under Iowa coach Tom Brands when he won his 2021 title. He sought to become the program’s first four-time NCAA champion during his senior season but was pinned in the 2023 NCAA Championships by Purdue sophomore Matt Ramos. Lee defaulted to sixth place, ending his college career as a three-time NCAA champion, four-time national place winner, and five-time All-American.
The former Iowa star immediately turned his attention toward the 2024 Olympics. He won the 2024 Pan-American Championships in February before winning the 2024 Olympic Trials in April with two wins over 2021 World champion Thomas Gilman in the best-of-three finals. Lee entered the final Olympic qualification tournament, where he reached the final, qualifying himself and the 57 kg men’s freestyle weight for the United States.
Lee won a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, winning his opening match against Zou Wanhao (China), 3-2, before techs over Bekzat Almaz Uulu of Kyrgyzstan (12-2) and Gulomjon Abdullaev of Uzbekistan (14-4). He fell to Japan’s Rei Higuchi in the finals, 4-2.
