A wrestling legend at the University of Iowa, Spencer Lee went on to do great things at the 2024 Summer Olympics Games. While he was hoping to win the gold medal, he's still proud of what he was able to accomplish during his time in Paris.

The former All-American and 3-time national champion took home a silver medal from this year's summer Olympics and he can now add his name to the 10 other Hawkeye wrestlers who brought home medals from the Olympic Games, according to Hawkeye Sports.

Lee lost to the top-seeded wrestler, Rei Higuchi from Japan in the gold medal match 4-2. It might not have been the color medal he had hoped for but he was still proud to represent the United States the best that he could and any Olympic medal is something to be proud of.

K92.3 logo
Get our free mobile app

With the entire state of Iowa cheering him on, he did mention that he was glad to be back home as he landed at the airport around 10:45 on Saturday night.

As he arrived at the eastern Iowa airport, he was greeted by more fans than he expected."It might not be the color I wanted but that's alright" is what he said to the large crowd of 100+ people who cheered on his return home.

He took photos, signed memorabilia for fans, and thanked everyone for being there. He spoke to KCRG about wrestling and how he's watched the sport continue to grow.

"I’m glad that the sport is continuing to grow and Iowa wrestling is something that you know is part of families and I’m hoping that I can inspire future generations to you know to continue to want to be the best in the world."

According to CBS Iowa, Lee's performance at the Olympics is the best for an Iowa Hawkeye wrestling Alumni since the current Hawkeye Coach, Tom Brands, won a gold medal in 1996. Thomas Gilman took home a Bronze medal in 2021, and Lincoln McIlravy also brought home a Bronze medal in 2000.

Want to keep up to date with the latest in local and music news? Download our app! It's completely free and not only will you be the first to know about breaking news, but we'll also keep you updated on concerts and other events coming to the area. You'll also have exclusive opportunities to win tickets. What are you waiting for? Get the free app today.

Iowa Born Sports Stars

What do each of these stellar athletes have in common? They all hail from the Hawkeye State.

Gallery Credit: Johnny Marks

The 20 Best Places to Visit in the State of Iowa According to Trip Advisor

We put together a list of the 20 best attractions in Iowa, as listed under "Traveler Favorites" on Trip Advisor! How many of these Iowa attractions have you visited?

Gallery Credit: Courtlin

More From K92.3