Wrestling FAQs

Kyle Dake was born on February 25, 1991, making him 33 years old as of 2024.

Despite being in his early 30s, Kyle continues to compete at the highest level of international wrestling, winning his second Olympic bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics at age 33.

Quick Facts:

• Birth Date: February 25, 1991
• Birthplace: Lansing, New York
• Current Age: 33 years old
• Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
• Weight: 165 lbs (74 kg competition weight)

Kyle Dake holds two impressive academic degrees from Cornell University:

Kyle Dake and Depression: Kyle has been open about his struggles with depression, particularly as a teenager and young adult. His sports psychology education has helped him develop tools to manage mental health while competing at the Olympic level.

Kyle's academic achievements demonstrate that he's not just an elite athlete—he's also a dedicated student who values education and personal growth.

Kyle Dake's college wrestling record at Cornell University was 137 wins and 4 losses (137-4).

Who did Kyle Dake lose to in college? Kyle had only 4 losses:

• David Taylor (Penn State) - 2012 regular season
• David Taylor (Penn State) - 2013 Big Ten Finals
• Two losses during his freshman year at 141 lbs

Despite losing to David Taylor twice during the season, Kyle defeated him 5-4 in the 2013 NCAA Finals to complete his historic Four for Four achievement.

Kyle Dake wrestled at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, from 2010 to 2013.

Cornell was his hometown university—Kyle grew up in nearby Lansing, New York, and attended Lansing High School. Choosing to stay close to home, he became Cornell's greatest wrestler and one of the most accomplished NCAA wrestlers of all time.

Kyle Dake is 5 feet 9 inches tall (175 cm) and competes at 74 kg (165 lbs)in freestyle wrestling.

Kyle's ability to successfully compete across multiple weight classes—winning NCAA titles at 141, 149, 157, and 165 lbs—demonstrates his versatility and technical skill. At the international level, he competes at 74 kg (163 lbs), where he has won 3 World Championships and 2 Olympic bronze medals.

Kyle Dake has won two Olympic bronze medals—one at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (held in 2021) and another at the Paris 2024 Olympics, both competing at 74 kg in freestyle wrestling.

Kyle is the first American wrestler to win back-to-back Olympic bronze medals at the same weight (74 kg) since Kenny Monday at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. He's also the first repeat 74kg Olympic wrestling medalist since Buvaisar Saitiev of Russia (2004, 2008).

"Four for Four: The Kyle Dake Story" is a documentary film about Kyle Dake's historic achievement of becoming the first—and still only—wrestler in NCAA Division I history to win national championships at four different weight classes (141, 149, 157, and 165 lbs).

The film features interviews with coaches, teammates, competitors, and family members who witnessed Kyle's historic achievement. It's an inspiring story about perseverance, mental toughness, and achieving the impossible.

The Kyle Dake vs Jordan Burroughs rivalry is one of the greatest in American wrestling history. Kyle Dake leads the series, with his most important victories coming at the 2021 Olympic Team Trials.

Both wrestlers are Olympic medalists and World Champions. Their rivalry pushed American wrestling to new heights and created some of the most memorable matches in U.S. wrestling history.

Kyle Dake and Jordan Burroughs have faced each other multiple times in domestic competitions, with Kyle Dake holding the edge in their most important matches, particularly at the 2021 Olympic Team Trials.

Why the rivalry matters: Both are among America's greatest wrestlers—Jordan Burroughs is an Olympic gold medalist and 6x World Champion, while Kyle Dake is a 2x Olympic bronze medalist and 3x World Champion. Their battles for the U.S. Olympic spot created some of the most intense matches in American wrestling history.

Note: The Four for Four documentary focuses on Kyle's college career and his senior year achieving the unprecedented 4-for-4 feat. The Dake-Burroughs rivalry came later in their careers at the international/Olympic level.

Yes! Kyle Dake defeated Jordan Burroughs at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in a dominant two-match sweep to earn the 74 kg spot on Team USA for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

This victory was monumental because:

• Jordan Burroughs was the defending Olympic gold medalist (London 2012)
• Burroughs had been one of USA's most dominant wrestlers for over a decade
• The winner would represent USA at the Tokyo Olympics
• It was considered one of the biggest upsets in U.S. wrestling history

Kyle went on to win the bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, then repeated with another bronze at Paris 2024, becoming the first American to win back-to-back Olympic bronze medals at 74 kg since Kenny Monday in 1992.

Both Kyle Dake and Jordan Burroughs are among the greatest American wrestlers of all time, with different but equally impressive accomplishments. They excel in different ways, making direct comparison difficult.

The Verdict: It depends on what you value more—Kyle's unprecedented NCAA versatility and recent international dominance, or Jordan's Olympic gold and record-breaking 6 World titles. Both are legends, and their rivalry has elevated American wrestling.

David Taylor had only two losses in his entire college wrestling career:

1. Bubba Jenkins (2011 NCAA Finals) - Taylor lost to his former Penn State teammate Bubba Jenkins in the 2011 NCAA 157-pound final, ending his undefeated freshman season.
2. Kyle Dake (2013 NCAA Finals) - In one of the most historic matches in NCAA wrestling history, Taylor lost to Kyle Dake 5-4 in the 2013 NCAA 165-pound final. This match allowed Dake to become the first wrestler ever to win NCAA championships at four different weight classes.

The Dake-Taylor rivalry is featured prominently in the Four for Four documentary, showcasing the final chapter of their epic college rivalry.

The debate for "best college wrestler ever" typically comes down to a few legends:

Verdict: While Sanderson's undefeated record is unmatched, Kyle Dake's achievement of winning at four different weight classes showcases unparalleled versatility and dominance across multiple divisions.

No, Cael Sanderson never lost in college. He finished his career at Iowa State with a perfect 159-0 record, winning four NCAA championships and three Dan Hodge Trophies.

Sanderson remains the only Division I wrestler to go undefeated for four complete college seasons. His perfect record is considered one of the most impressive feats in all of college sports history.

After his undefeated college career, Sanderson went on to win an Olympic gold medal in 2004 and is now the head coach at Penn State, where he's built one of the most dominant wrestling programs in NCAA history.

Yes, Kyle Dake and David Taylor are not just friends—they're business partners! Despite their fierce college rivalry, the two wrestling legends have developed a strong friendship and mutual respect.

Dake and Taylor are co-founders of Vitality Wellness Club, a wellness business that combines their expertise in nutrition, fitness, and athletic performance.

Their partnership is a testament to how competition can forge lasting bonds. What started as one of the greatest rivalries in college wrestling (Taylor won their first two meetings, but Dake won the crucial 2013 NCAA Finals 5-4) has evolved into a friendship built on shared values and mutual respect.

Both continue to dominate international wrestling:

• Kyle Dake: 3x World Champion, 2x Olympic Bronze Medalist (Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024)
• David Taylor: 3x World Champion, Olympic Gold Medalist (Tokyo 2020)

At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Kyle Dake lost to Daichi Takatani of Japan in the semifinals in a high-scoring shootout. Despite the loss, Dake went on to win the bronze medal match, earning his second Olympic bronze medal (his first was at Tokyo 2020).

Dake's Olympic journey includes:

• Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021): Bronze Medal at 74 kg
• Paris 2024: Bronze Medal at 74 kg (after semifinal loss to Takatani)

Before reaching the Olympics, Dake had to defeat his longtime rival Jordan Burroughs in the 2021 Olympic Team Trials (3-0, 3-2) to earn his spot on Team USA.

David Taylor signed a six-year contract worth $7.45 million with Oklahoma State University, making him the first college wrestling coach to earn $1 million per year.

Taylor can also reallocate performance bonuses to his assistant coaches, plus receive benefits including golf course membership, luxury suite tickets, and football tickets.

Cael Sanderson earned $1,017,300 during Penn State's 2023-2024 fiscal year as head wrestling coach.

Sanderson's compensation reflects his incredible success at Penn State, where he's built a dynasty with multiple NCAA team championships.

Interesting comparison: David Taylor (Sanderson's former wrestler at Penn State) now makes slightly more as Oklahoma State's head coach ($1 million base salary), making him the first college wrestling coach to break the $1 million annual salary mark.

The title of "greatest Olympic wrestler of all time" is debated, but the top contenders are:

American Olympic Wrestling Legends: Dan Gable (1972 gold), Bruce Baumgartner (4 medals including 2 golds), John Smith (2 golds), Jordan Burroughs (1 gold), Kyle Snyder (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze), and David Taylor (1 gold).