Kyle Dake is an American freestyle wrestler renowned for his extraordinary achievements in both collegiate and international competition.
Born on February 25, 1991, in Lansing, New York, Dake grew up in a family deeply immersed in the sport of wrestling, which shaped his early passion and dedication.
As the eldest of three siblings, he began wrestling at the age of four under the guidance of his father, Doug Dake, a former NCAA All-American.
Dake’s journey has been marked by resilience, particularly following the passing of his father in April 2024, just days before he qualified for his second Olympic Games.
He is married to Megan Dake since December 2016, and they have three children: daughters EllaJo and Emilia, and son Leo.
Siblings
Kyle’s siblings, Corey and Kristin, have been integral to his personal and athletic life.
Corey Alan Dake, his younger brother, followed directly in Kyle’s footsteps by joining the Cornell University wrestling program, where he competed in the college’s storied tradition.
Majoring in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Corey embraced the same competitive environment that propelled Kyle to national prominence.
Kristin Dake, his younger sister also pursued wrestling, contributing to the Dake family’s reputation as a lineage of grapplers.
Career
At Lansing High School in New York, Dake emerged as a standout, securing two NYSPHSAA Division II state championships in 2007 and 2009 while serving as team captain for four seasons.
He also lettered in baseball and track, showcasing his all-around athleticism with a high school record of 224-14.
Transitioning to Cornell University without a redshirt year, Dake rewrote NCAA history by becoming the first wrestler to win four Division I national titles in four consecutive years and four different weight classes: 141 pounds as a freshman in 2010, 149 pounds as a sophomore in 2011, 157 pounds as a junior in 2012, and 165 pounds as a senior in 2013.
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His Cornell tenure ended with an impeccable 137-4 record, including two undefeated seasons and a 77-match winning streak, all under coach Rob Koll.
Post-college, Dake pivoted to freestyle wrestling, facing early hurdles like injuries and defeats to Jordan Burroughs in U.S. World Team Trials.
Undeterred, he debuted internationally in 2014 and steadily rose, capturing his first senior-level gold at the 2018 World Championships in Budapest at 79 kilograms, where he outscored opponents 37-0 without conceding a point.
He defended that title in 2019 before dropping to 74 kilograms, winning consecutive world golds in 2021 and 2022.
Dake’s Olympic journey began with a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games, earned after defeating Burroughs in the trials.
In 2024, just nine days after his father’s death, he qualified for Paris by overcoming a challenging field, ultimately securing another bronze medal on August 10, 2024, with a dramatic comeback victory featuring his signature “Dake bomb” throw.
Now 34, Dake trains rigorously, blending folkstyle roots with freestyle innovation, and competes in events like the Pan American Championships, where he claimed golds in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Accolades
In college at Cornell, Dake claimed four NCAA Division I titles, the only athlete to do so in four different weight classes without redshirting, earning All-American status each year and three Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) Wrestler of the Year awards from 2011 to 2013.
His senior year pinnacle included the 2013 Dan Hodge Trophy, recognizing him as the nation’s top collegiate wrestler, and the Wade Schalles Award for the best pinner, highlighted by a Cornell-record 18 pins in an undefeated 37-0 season.
He was also named the 2013 NCAA Outstanding Wrestler, the inaugural Sports Illustrated Male College Athlete of the Year, and an ESPY finalist in the same category.
On the international stage, Dake’s freestyle prowess shines through four World Championship golds: back-to-back at 79 kilograms in 2018 and 2019, followed by consecutive triumphs at 74 kilograms in 2021 and 2022, making him a four-time world champion overall.
His Olympic bronzes in Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 further elevate his legacy, with the latter marked by unyielding resilience amid personal grief.
Additional accolades include multiple Pan American Championship golds from 2021 to 2024, victories at the Yasar Dogu and Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series, and the 2009 Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award.
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