J’den Cox leaves shoes on the mat after heartbreaking loss at Olympic Wrestling Trials | NBC Sports

J’den Cox leaves his shoes on the mat after suffering a defeat to Kollin Moore in the men’s freestyle 97kg challenge semifinal at the U.S. Olympics Wrestling Trials. Afterward, an introspective Cox shared why it’s time. #NBCSports #Wrestling #JdenCox
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J’den Cox retires after U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials freestyle loss | NBC Sports
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ready for the action to continue and it’ll do so at 97 kg 2112 lb 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Jaden Cox trying to make it another Olympic team who was an Olympic dream to bring home a medal from Rio it was an Olympic themed nightmare 3 years ago in Fort Worth Texas for him he’ll face Colin Moore the three-time All America at Ohio State and NCA a runner up back in 2019 here in the blue but for Jaden Cox Jim three years ago in Fort Worth Texas potentially a big Showdown with Kyle Snider another legendary American wrestler but Cox was late for wayin tried to get down to we quickly didn’t make the number and did not get to wrestle at the Olympic trials he’s battled back for a guy with six olympic and world medals all time including back-to-back World titles in 2018 and 2019 he was supposed to Face Kyle Snider for a spot on last year’s World team but was forced to pull out the day of the event with an injury so a lot of people anxious to see if Jaden Cox can recapture the magic and give them what they wanted three years ago and that’s a showdown with Kyle Snider who’s waiting in the best of three finals tomorrow yeah there’s so much anticipation for that match two two Olympic medalists and both phenomenal wrestlers different styles Jaden Cox super explosive but had his share of disappointments in his wrestling career hoping to uh to overcome that here in these Olympic trials well Colin Moore will try to shake the shadow of Kyle Snider too he lost to Snider at the Olympic trials in the best of three finals in Fort Worth 3 years ago 11 zip and 122 against Snider with all of his dominance olypic gold medalist four him and Rio three other world titles so as Cox and more underway so too are the other ones in this weight class in the semifinals and that’s Isaac Trump 22-year-old from Springfield Nebraska a 2023 U23 world champion at this 97 kilo weight class and Jonathan J aello from Chantelly Virginia outside of Washington DC Virginia Cavalier in his wrestling career right now Mello getting the best of Trumbo early yeah he’s dominating this match and deep again could score an exposure Point here could score a Tak down they go for a stalemate and restart him Jaden’s kind A little sluggish on our other match hayen just really didn’t look like himself this morning hopefully he can break out of that here in this match and uh get himself going for the rest of this tournament again Cox with Elite defense throughout stages of his career just so challenging to score on a guy nicknamed The Matrix for all of his exotic moves especially on the defensive end Cox does have the single point lead here on more the question for Cox at times Jim can he have enough offense to notch victories yeah he tends to sit back and wait too long sometimes and rely on counters every now and then you really need to be able to get on your horse and go out and get some points and that’s uh that’s kept him from from winning in a few occasions but he’s got the ability now three time NCH happened Missouri first ever for the Tigers now 29 years of age leading Colin Moore meantime video review there between Iowa and Trumble in the other 97 KG Men’s freestyle semifinal late in the first period there there was an action on the edge there but I I think the offensive wrestler trumbl was um was already out of bounds and they’re not going to give him those points Cox and more just kind of doing this slow dance hand fighting up top as the first period ends yeah I think Jaden’s pretty happy to come out of that period with with a one out just hung out didn’t expend a lot of energy Colin Moore was he was young and just got overpowered by by Kyle Snider in Fort Worth three years ago but this is a great opportunity for him to to come back increased experience iow and the learning curve over three years to really challenge so we’ll see who wants try to continue to build back up two time age group World medalist himself he won the 2023 us Nationals in December [Music] so getting ready for the second period with Cox and more still looking at the review there on iello and Trumble up on the board we’ve got the review of The Challenge getting that tow down and ready for action here in the second 3-minute period and the video review still continues for Io and Trumble Trumble Trumble initiated the move they’re trying to see where his feet were when went out of bounds to where or not they’re going to W that point because he got countered I then then got on on top and had an exposure points but I don’t think I don’t think he’ll get it but it looks they’re looking at it for a long time here so who knows so critical to make sure they get this review correct see them working back the video frame by frame to look as Cox tries to get something done against Colin Moore think they’re going to give a passivity call on Jaden here unless he gets moving but he’s got those double unders he’s going to get a pushup Point experience here for Cox who’s become a dad in the last 6 months twins in November adding that to his portfolio a lot of these Elite ref wrestlers men’s and women’s starting F Lees during their careers challenge decision Matt three takeown criteria has been met two points blue challenge is one so Trumble going to pick up two for the taked down with the takedown criteria met he’ll hang on to that challenge should he need it later on in the match and it’s 4-3 so they gave him the two and they didn’t give iolo anything on the counter tightens this match up Cox and a stalemate there with more they’ll break them and get them back to the center Jaden Cox was one of those College wrestlers that exploded right out of his success at the ncaa’s one year back in 2016 to go to the Olympics he was a high seed the nine seed and went through the Challenge tournament went his way to the Olympic team and then to an Olympic bronze medal and how about Colin Moore able to flip the script there on get this G I don’t know if he got that exposure and a nice ankle pick leverage are in to a two-point take down now trying to lock that up does get two and has the tiebreaking criteria right right now with the two-point take down remember Cox just two single point scor Jaden’s got to get moving now because this this match is Colin Moors if it ends that way it is that was a good sequence of action Moore was really close to getting another two points for exposure [Music] 42 so it’s 4-2 iel and Trumble at the end of the opening period back to Cox and Moore again that little arrow next to Moore’s name signifies he has tiebreaking criteria if we stay this score at the end of this second period really pushing hard now Jaden trying Jaden’s trying to get a push out trying to get anything bit of a lackluster shot but then he really went up top but 25 seconds left he’s got to get going Jaden Cox six olympic and World medals in his career including consecutive World titles in 2018 and 2019 but Colin Moore who’s gotten it done at the age group level trying to continue the quest to get it done here at the Olympic trials and he is going to post the Shocker takes down Jaden Cox here with the win 22 on criteria big win for Colin Moore gives Jaden the respect he [Applause] deserves so Jaden Cox the Elian in the Euphoria of his first Olympic trials breaking through the disappointment of the last one failing to get there on time to weigh in and now going out early here in The Challenge tournament yeah nice Hill pick by Colin Moore Jaden tried to throw and counter but uh Colin was able to get to the side and get the two-point takeown tied up at JX trying to collect his thoughts right now with all he’s achieved as you see Cox the center of the bat starting to take his shoes off and Jim this is an old wrestling tradition that signifies retirement this is an incredible moment for Jaden Cox this crowd knows wrestling giv this veteran the respect he deserves taking his shoes off signifying that he’s not going to step back on the mat as a competitor again what an incredible [Applause] moment signify his retirement a kiss from a lifetime in wrestling and Cox says goodbye on behalf of this great sport K Cox welln for your service to the sport of wrestling and Team USA the Ovation here from the crowd at Penn State def Def and Jim you can kind of feel he was thinking about after losing contemplating is this the time decides to do thought about it for a bit called his coach over and then said you know what I’m going to do it I’m done he’s been a warrior for the US again two World titles Olympic Bronze in Rio six olympic and World medals all time for Jaden Cox Jaden this crowd just embraced you with all that you’ve accomplished in this sport what led you to that moment right there putting your shoes on the map I think uh I’m losing the guys that I was beating before uh doing disservice to myself and to them to stay a part of it on top of that I think now in my life you know with my wife my kids I’m in a position now where I’m done trying to conquer the world and I’m going to try and make it better for them and that’s my that’s my uh goal from here on out so you know I’m not accomplishing my goals I’m Los losing the guys that I used to beat and I admit like some things just with the hunger not being there and if I’m not doing things right I it’s disrespectful me to try to stay a part of it you know have enough respect for this sport to walk away it’s hard I love this sport but you know I’ve had a great career so it’s been good I think so many people can respect that reasoning you gave someone a huge hug right after you got the mat who was that and what was that moment like that was my coach Kevin Jackson you know uh he’s been a part of this journey through the ups and downs I truly believe I wouldn’t have been nearly as successful had he not been a part of my career and you know he was talking you know cuz I didn’t tell anyone about this and he was talking you know hey you don’t want to make decision out emotions and I told him hey I’m be honest with you I’ve kind of been feeling this way for a minute for a moment you know and uh I did my best I put my best foot forward and I wish things would have come out better but at the end of the day you know uh We’ve we’ve gotten to we’ve gotten the places some people just dream of we’ve accomplished things people dream of um and I can walk away I always think about my career as a rocking Sheriff act you know when I get older and I sit in my rocking Sheri and I look back and be proud of it and um at this moment in time I can be so no regrets for me we really appreciate the time I think we got some people to your right waiting for you Jaden Cox again those twins now moving into the next phase of his life the dad phase enjoy those rocking chair moments Jaden and look back at a career well earned with six olympic and World medals all time [Music]