With the NCAA’s shift on name, image and likeness, one athlete that has already capitalized on marketing deals is University of Minnesota wrestler Gable Steveson.
A gold medal will only make those opportunities more lucrative, and Steveson will wrestle for gold on Friday after defeating Mongolia’s Lkhagvagerel Munkhtur 5-0 in the men’s 125kg semifinals Thursday.
Steveson scored a takedown before the break at the three-minute mark. Munkhtur tried to slow Steveson down by stalling. But Steveson stayed on his game plan and scored another takedown late to walk away the victor in his third match of the day.
“He did what he needed to do,” Steveson said of Munkhtur. “He came out here, he made it this far. He didn’t want to push the pace. I was pushing everything very hard.”
Steveson expected more caution calls (Munkhtur received one), but that’s how it goes in overseas wrestling, he said.
“It’s the Olympics,” the NCAA champion said. “I don’t care (what the score is) if I’m winning the match.”
