"I'm a world ambassador, not just US" - Jordan Burroughs on Mijain Lopez's Paris Olympics gesture that made him realize his own influence in wrestling

Jordan Burroughs recently reflected on one of Mijain Lopez's inspiring moments at the 2024 Paris Games. Lopez bid adieu to the sport after clinching five consecutive Olympic gold medals, eight world championship medals, and multiple World Cup, Pan American Games, and Pan American championship titles.

At the 2024 Paris Games, the Cuban wrestler secured his fifth consecutive gold medal in the men's 130 kg category. Following his iconic victory, the 42-year-old wrestler in a symbolic gesture placed his wrestling shoes in the center of the mat, marking his retirement from the sport.

The 2012 London Olympics 74kg men's weight category wrestling gold medalist Burroughs acknowledged the stirring gesture by the 5-time Olympic medalist. After a tough exit from the 2016 Olympics and missing the qualification for the 2020 and 2024 Games, Burroughs emerged unfazed and fueled by a renewed passion for wrestling while taking inspiration from Lopez.

In an interview with Rudis, Burroughs recognized his goal is not just to represent the United States but to serve as a global ambassador.

"I don't just belong to the American wrestling fans you know I belong to the world so when I got a chance to watch Mijain Lopez at the Olympics take his shoes off in the middle of the mat and watch the way the world kind of became around him...it made me recognize my own career is...I'm a world ambassador, not just a US ambassador. So there's still work to be done." (2:40 onwards)

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"Seeing the end of my career" - Jordan Burroughs reflects on his concerns following his failure to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics

Jordan Burroughs at the Olympic media summit in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo via Getty Images)

After defeating Mitchell Mesenbrink in the semifinal round of the 74 kg weight category, Jordan Burroughs faced defeat against Jason Nolf in the final round.

After falling short of earning a place to compete in Paris, Burroughs navigated the possibility of witnessing the end of his career. In an interview with Flo Wrestling, he expressed feeling disheartened and questioning his career.

“After the World championships and the Olympic Games, nothing else really matters for us. So, going back to back years 23 and 24 not making a team, it just kind of jaded me a little bit in regards to where I was as a sportsman. But, you know, was I seeing the end of my career in real-time? So, a lot of the things that I felt was a lot of me just projecting my own insecurity of where I was right. I'm like, ‘Man, is it over?’" (1:20 onwards)

Jordan Burroughs will be seen competing next at the Senior 2024 World Wrestling Championships held in Tirana, Albania, from October 28-31, 2024.