Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs is set to make his debut in Real American Freestyle (RAF), a professional wrestling league that he credits with offering opportunities to veteran athletes who might otherwise be nearing the end of their careers.
Burroughs, 38, will compete in RAF 12 on August 22 in Cleveland, which will be streamed on Fox Nation. He joined "Fox & Friends" to discuss his upcoming appearance and the league's unique approach to wrestling.
"I'm getting older, so I'm past my prime," Burroughs stated. "Typically the average age of the Olympian or world championship team member is anywhere from 25 to 30. So at 38, I'm on the back side of my career, but RAF has given me an opportunity to get back into that."
The wrestler highlighted that many professional wrestling leagues struggle with sustainability, but RAF has found success. He noted that freestyle wrestling has traditionally been centered around the Olympic Games and World Championships, leaving limited post-collegiate options for athletes.
"Most wrestlers start at a very young age, but post-collegiately you don't really have a lot of options," Burroughs explained. "We're trying to create a way to sustain excellence over a long period of time. I think RAF has done a great job."
Burroughs has a decorated career, including a gold medal in the men's 74-kilogram freestyle competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He has also won six freestyle wrestling world titles, three Pan American Games gold medals, and multiple Pan American Wrestling Championships titles. He holds the U.S. record for the most combined World and Olympic gold medals with seven.
Real American Freestyle, co-founded with wrestling personality Hulk Hogan, blends Olympic-style wrestling with a stylized presentation. The league is approaching its one-year anniversary on Fox Nation.