BREAKING: Ex-Penn State wrestling star Aaron Brooks wins first Olympic Medal

Penn State wrestling four-timer Aaron Brooks is leaving Paris with the first Olympic Medal of his international career after taking down Uzbekistan’s Javrail Shapiev 5-0 in the 86 kg Bronze Medal match at the 2024 Summer Olympics on Friday. It was not the medal that many expected for the former Nittany Lions star heading into the Games, but Brooks finished strong after being upset in the semifinal round on Thursday.

Penn State wrestling great Aaron Brooks captures Olympic Bronze Medal

Aaron Brooks seemed to have the energy in the match from the start and was on the offensive early. While he didn’t score any offensive points, he was awarded one point for inactivity by Shapiev and held that lead into the intermission.

Brooks came out firing in the second half and forced a step out in the first five seconds after returning to the mat. He then picked up his first takedown with 1:45 remaining in the bout to extend his lead to 4-0. Just 15 seconds later, Brooks drove Shapiev off the mat again. Although Brooks took him down, the single point for a pushout was already awarded.

Shapiev never really made any attempts to get the offense going until late, and by that point, Brooks’ great defense and exhaustion took over. It was a strong rebound performance for Aaron Brooks after his stunning upset on Thursday, something that the Penn State wrestling faithful have come to expect.

Dake falls in 74 kg semifinal

Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier in Friday’s second session, the Penn State wrestling community suffered another blow to its Gold Medal hopes.

After two dominant wins in the first session, NLWC standout Kyle Dake lost in a shocking upset to Japan’s Daichi Takatani in the 74 kg semifinal. Dake fell into an early 9-4 deficit after the first three minutes, the first time the No. 1 seed had trailed in Paris.

Dake quickly battled back in the first 20 seconds after the break to bring the score within one. However, the former Cornell star could never reclaim the lead, ultimately falling 20-12. Dake will compete for his second Bronze Medal in Saturday’s 12:15 p.m. session.

One final Penn State wrestling alumni will also be in action on Saturday, as Zain Retherford takes the mat for the first time in the 2024 Summer Olympics. The unseeded Retherford will face the No. 2 seed, Rahman Amouzadkhali of Iran, in the 65 kg preliminary round at 5 a.m. ET.

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation! Please follow us on all of our social channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube) and subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at basicbluesnation@gmail.com or direct message us on our social media.