Aaron Brooks ‘blessed’ to have Penn State wrestling teammates at 2024 Olympics

Aaron Brooks made his debut at the senior level of the international wrestling circuit at the 2024 Olympics last week, securing a Bronze Medal for the United States in the process. A life-changing moment for most, the Bronze was not what many expected from the former Penn State wrestling star, who was one of the favorites for Gold.

Losing isn’t necessarily something Aaron Brooks is accustomed to, going 89-3 throughout his Nittany Lion career. But the four-time National Champion isn’t looking back on his time in Paris with any regrets.

In an interview with USA Wrestling following his Bronze Medal match, Brooks spoke to the importance of having his Penn State wrestling and NLWC coaches and teammates with him in Paris for the Games.

“Just going through it with my teammates,” Brooks said of his favorite part of the 2024 Olympics. “A lot of us were suffering together, laughing together, and we get to compete together. Teams make a big difference, being from Penn State. Being able to be around the guys for almost a month, three weeks, has just been really cool… We’re very blessed to have each other and be doing it together.”

Aaron Brooks has always made it known what being a Nittany Lion has done for him as a wrestler and as a person. It appears his time as an Olympian has been no different.

Ex-Penn State wrestling star shows healthy mindset after a tough loss

Mandatory Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports

On most betting markets, Aaron Brooks was about as close as you could get to a sure thing to make it to the 86 kg Gold Medal bout.

However, a late turn in Thursday’s semifinal round from Magomed Ramzanov of Bulgaria saw the former Penn State wrestling superstar fall short of the lofty expectations.

But despite the heartbreaking loss in his first Olympics experience, Brooks seems to be at peace with the result.

“I think that is part of the experience. I’ve wrestled U23, Junior, Cadet [World Championships], but [this was my] first senior level tournament overseas, [it] just happened to be the Olympics,” Brooks said. “Some things were just newer. Like we got in some cool scrambles, where, if I finish those – if I’m adapting to those, I close that out. But he [Ramzanov] gave a good look at the end. Like I maybe should have stood up; it’s kind of one of those things, should I have went this way, should I have went that way? That’s how the cards played.

“But overall, it’s always a test of faith. It doesn’t look like how you think it’s going to look. Well, you can say, ‘It won’t always look like that.’ But what will you do? You be who you are regardless.”

Brooks expressed that he feels blessed even to have the opportunity to wrestle in the 2024 Olympics, and didn’t want to take it for granted. This approach kept him on a focused path and ultimately led to a strong finish, taking down Uzbekistan’s Javrail Shapiev 5-0 in the Bronze Medal match.

“Knowing that things come and go kind of gives me a sense of peace to just go out there and wrestle and enjoy,” Brooks said of his emotions surrounding the Games. “Because the Olympics is over now for my weight class, and they’re talking about the next four years already.”

Aaron Brooks recognizes that the future in wrestling is always uncertain. New opponents, injuries, and other obstacles could always prevent even the best wrestlers from returning to the Olympic stage.

A mentality he learned in Happy Valley, Brooks displayed why Cael Sanderson and Penn State wrestling continue to succeed at the NCAA level, and why many look to the former Nittany Lion as potentially the future of American wrestling.

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