Helen Maroulis has won the first ever Gold Medal for the United States in Women’s Wrestling.

Maroulis beat legendary Japanese wrestler, Saori Yoshida.  To put how EPIC Maroulis’ victory is, consider this:  Saori Yoshida is the 3x defending Olympic Champion and has won 13 Consecutive World Championships.

Overcoming Obstacles and Sacrificing everything for a dream

In High School Helen Maroulis wrestled against boys through her Junior Year. She did not make the 2012 Olympic Games because she lost her match by a single point.  She went to London anyway to be the sparring partner to the woman who beat her at the Trials.   It was at that moment she decided she was going to be ALL IN about going to Rio.

“That’s when everythng changed.  I was going to sacrifice everything to make it to the Olympics.”

She said that she has been literally hungry for a whole year eating the same boring foods in order to make weight for the Olympic Games.  It was all worth it as she beat the legend on the mat.

Not for the media attention

Helen Maroulis’ historic victory was overshadowed by the ridiculous USA Swimming fake robbery story but as she said she did not do this for the media attention.

“I didn’t come here to win a gold medal for the media attention,” she said. “I didn’t come here to win a gold medal in order to find something within myself or some peace within myself. I found that self-worth before I stepped on the mat. I think that’s why I won the gold medal.

This is the mindset of a champion!