PARIS, France — While Iowans may be no stranger to the popularity of wrestling, the 2024 Paris Olympics gave those in The Hawkeye State — and Hawkeye fans, specifically — a couple more reasons to celebrate the sport.
Spencer Lee, a former Hawkeye All-American, and Kennedy Blades, an incoming Hawkeye, both won silver medals. They took to social media over the weekend to reflect on their debut Olympic performances.
Former Iowa Hawkeye star Spencer Lee left Paris with a silver medal around his neck.
In an Instagram post Sunday, Lee said although he was disappointed that he wouldn't be bringing home the gold, he was proud of his silver medal.
"I also want to thank the Hawkeye wrestling club and all the fans for the incredible support," he wrote. "To see so many fans travel for team USA and myself was an honor...Go USA and Go Hawks!"
He also thanked his coaches and teammates for helping him succeed.
In his Olympic debut, he clinched a spot in the men's freestyle 57kg final with a victory over China's Wanhao 3-2 and had two wins by technical superiority over Bezkat Uulu of Kyrgyzstann and Gulomjon Abdullaev of Uzbekistan.
He fell to Rei Higuchi of Japan 4-2 in the gold medal match.
At the University of Iowa, Lee became a three-time NCAA Champion and a two-time Dan Hodge Trophy winner. He finished his college career with a 98-6 record and went undefeated inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Iowa commit Kennedy Blades has already made Hawkeye women's wrestling history before stepping onto campus.
The 20-year-old took on Yuka Kagamiof of Japan in the 76kg freestyle women's wrestling final match Sunday. Despite losing 3-1, her silver medal makes her the first Hawkeye women's wrestler to medal at the Olympic Games.
Blades held up her silver medal in front of the Eiffel Tower in an Instagram story. She also shared a video of her hitting the suplex move, when a wrestler picks up an opponent and flips them backwards, on Romanian Catalina Axente in the Round of 16.
"My goal was to hit a suplex on the biggest stage and thankfully I did," Blades wrote.
To get to the final Blades beat Axente 11-0, Milaimy de la Caridad Marin Portrille of Cuba 4-3 and Aiperi Medet Kyzy of Kyrgyzstan 8-6 all in competition Saturday.
Earlier this year, Blades signed a national letter of intent to wrestle for Iowa in 2024.