Jordan Ernest Burroughs, born on July 8, 1988, in Camden, New Jersey, stands as one of the most decorated wrestlers in American history.
Growing up in the nearby town of Sicklerville, Burroughs discovered the sport at the tender age of five through a school flyer for a little league wrestling program.
As the youngest of four children in a family where no one else pursued the mat, he carved his own path, transforming from a self-described underdog into a global icon.
Burroughs, a devout Christian who often credits his faith for providing contentment amid the highs and lows of competition, graduated from the University of Nebraska in 2011 with a degree in sociology.
Off the mat, he balances his athletic pursuits with family life, having married Lauren Mariacher in 2013; the couple now raises five children while he also serves as an assistant coach at his alma mater.
Siblings
Burroughs has three older siblings, two sisters, Princess and Jenerra, and one brother, Leroy.
None of his siblings ventured into wrestling, leaving Jordan to navigate the sport solo from the start, relying on coaches and his own determination.
Career
Burroughs’ wrestling odyssey began in earnest at Winslow Township High School, where he compiled a 115-20 record, securing three district titles, two regional championships, and a state crown at 135 pounds in 2006 as the nation’s seventh-ranked wrestler in his weight class.
Choosing the University of Nebraska sight unseen, he exploded onto the collegiate scene, amassing a 128-20 folkstyle record over four seasons.
His sophomore year in 2008 ended with a third-place NCAA finish at 157 pounds and a Big 12 title, but it was his undefeated junior campaign in 2009—35-0—that propelled him to his first national championship.
An injury sidelined him briefly as a junior, yet he rebounded spectacularly in 2011, going 36-0 at 165 pounds to claim a second NCAA title, three Big 12 crowns overall, and etching his name as one of Nebraska’s all-time greats.
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Transitioning seamlessly to senior freestyle in 2011, Burroughs captured his first World Championship in Istanbul that September, becoming just the fourth wrestler to win NCAA and World titles in the same year.
The following summer, at 24 years old, he stormed through the London Olympics, defeating Iran’s Sadegh Goudarzi 1-0 in the 74kg final for gold, launching a legendary 69-match senior winning streak from 2011 to 2014.
Subsequent World golds in 2013 and 2015 followed, alongside Pan American triumphs in 2011 and 2013, solidifying his status as the face of USA Wrestling.
A shocking quarterfinal exit at the 2016 Rio Olympics—his only major tournament without a medal—tested his resolve, but he roared back with a 2017 World title, bronzes in 2018 and 2019, and shifted to 79kg post-Tokyo 2020 to snag golds in 2021 and 2022.
By 2025, Burroughs had amassed over 240 international victories, briefly stepping away after missing the Paris Olympics but returning to coach and compete, ever the resilient competitor who has elevated freestyle’s profile in America.
Accolades
Burroughs’ crown jewel remains the 2012 Olympic gold medal in the 74kg division, a feat that catapulted him to national stardom and inspired a surge in youth participation.
Complementing this are six World Championship golds—in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2021, and 2022—plus three bronzes in 2013, 2018, and 2019, totaling nine World medals and tying him with legends like Dave Schultz for the second-most in U.S. history.
Three Pan American Games golds (2011, 2015, 2019) further underscore his continental supremacy.
On the collegiate front, two NCAA Division I titles (2009 at 157 pounds, 2011 at 165 pounds) came with undefeated seasons, earning him the prestigious Dan Hodge Trophy in 2011 as the nation’s top wrestler, wrestling’s Heisman equivalent, and InterMat Wrestler of the Year honors that same year.
He claimed three Big 12 Conference titles and was twice named Big 12 Outstanding Wrestler, while his high school New Jersey state championship in 2006 capped a stellar prep career.
Beyond the mat, Burroughs received USA Wrestling’s Freestyle Wrestler of the Year award three times (2011, 2012, 2013), the 2013 John Smith Award, and the United States Olympic Committee’s Male Olympic Athlete of the Year in 2015.
His 69-match senior winning streak stands as a U.S. record, and in 2021, Nebraska inducted him into its Hall of Fame, recognizing his 128 collegiate victories as the fourth-most in program history.
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