Olympic gold medalist and wrestling icon Kyle Snyder was arrested Friday in Columbus, Ohio, in connection with an alleged prostitution sting operation, according to Columbus police.
Snyder, 29, was one of 16 individuals arrested in a targeted operation where undercover officers posed as sex workers. Authorities say Snyder responded to a decoy escort advertisement online, contacted the officer, and allegedly offered money in exchange for a sex act. He was arrested at the scene.
The news comes less than a year after Snyder competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he placed fourth in the 97kg freestyle wrestling division — narrowly missing a third consecutive Olympic medal.
A Fall from Grace
Snyder is considered one of the most accomplished wrestlers in American history. He won Olympic gold at Rio 2016 and bronze in Tokyo 2021, and remains the youngest American to win Olympic, World, and NCAA titles in the same year.
From 2016 to 2018, he dominated collegiate wrestling with three NCAA championships at Ohio State University, earning induction into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024.
Most recently, Snyder had signed with the Real American Freestyle Wrestling League, a new professional venture backed by Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff. He was also training with Cael Sanderson at Penn State, eyeing a return to the Olympics for Los Angeles 2028.
No Public Comment Yet
As of now, neither Snyder nor his legal representatives have issued any public statements. The investigation is still ongoing, and formal charges are expected in the coming days, according to Sgt. Joe Albert of the Columbus Police Department.
USA Wrestling and Ohio State University have not yet released official comments regarding Snyder’s arrest.
Implications and Next Steps
The arrest of such a high-profile athlete raises serious questions for Snyder’s career, reputation, and future prospects, both in amateur and professional wrestling. His involvement in an operation of this nature could potentially affect his sponsorships, league contracts, and Olympic eligibility — depending on the outcome of the case.
More updates are expected as the legal proceedings unfold.
