Olympic Gold Medalist Jordan Burroughs Returns at 38

Jordan Burroughs could just tell his wrestling students how to be great. Instead, he's about to show them by stepping back into competition at age 38.

More than 100 kids from his All I See Is Gold Academy in southern New Jersey will make the nine-hour trip to Cleveland this Saturday to watch their coach return to action after two years away. Burroughs will compete in the co-main event of Real American Freestyle's RAF 12 against Sean Brady, a mixed martial arts performer who's bigger, stronger, and five years younger.

"There's an element of telling people how to do something, and then there's an element of just showing them the way," Burroughs said. "All right, enough talking, just watch me."

Burroughs isn't just any coach making a comeback. He won Olympic gold in 2012, claimed six world championships, and earned recognition as the most accomplished Black American wrestler in history. But those achievements happened before most of his students were born.

That's exactly why he wants them there. He wants his academy kids, many from communities where wrestling isn't common, to see their coach "get in the trenches" with younger competitors. Growing up in the predominantly Black part of Winslow Township, New Jersey, Burroughs was the unusual kid who chose wrestling over football and basketball.

"I wanted to be the hero that brown boys could look at and say, 'Man, I want to be like him,'" he said. His academy brings the sport to children who might never otherwise try it.

Why This Inspires

Burroughs insists this comeback isn't about proving anything to critics or chasing past glory. After winning his last world title in 2022 and a gold medal at the 2023 Pan American Championships, he has nothing left to prove.

What drives him now is simpler and more personal. "I just want to feel the thrill of being on the stage," he said. "I want to feel the excitement of sharpening my mind and body to go do something challenging."

His competitive fire never dimmed during his hiatus. That drive to improve and find new challenges is just in his DNA after decades of competition. He felt good in practice situations and found an outlet in RAF, the professional Olympic-style wrestling organization that pursued him for their one-year anniversary event.

Where this journey leads remains uncertain. His longtime rival Kyle Dake holds the RAF cruiserweight championship with a 5-0 record. Burroughs could chase that belt, or maybe even attempt Olympic qualification for 2028 at age 40.

For now, he's measuring success in moments rather than years. "I'm trying to feel good, get back into competition and really see where the wind takes me," he said. "I'm training deliberately and intentionally now. If I can do that, then the sky's the limit."

RAF co-founder Izzy Martinez expects a strong performance because Burroughs never really left wrestling. "Wrestling still runs in his blood," Martinez said. "Away from competition, but not away from the mat."

This Saturday, 100 kids will watch their coach prove that the best lessons come from never stopping the chase.