Helen Maroulis
The American who beat Yoshida, then kept winning
- Born
- September 19, 1991, Rockville, Maryland, US
- Nationality
United States- Style
- Clutch finisher
- Weight
- 53 kg, 55 kg, 57 kg, 58 kg
- Active
- 2008–present
- Status
- Active · age 35
The medals
1 Olympic gold, 4 world titles
The story
elen Maroulis became the first American woman to win Olympic wrestling gold when she beat Saori Yoshida 4-1 in the Rio 2016 final at 53 kg. The Maryland native had already won the 2015 world title and added another in 2017, but a concussion derailed her, including a stunning first-round loss by fall at the 2018 World Championships. She rebuilt, winning a third world title in 2021 and Olympic bronzes in Tokyo and Paris, becoming the first U.S. woman with multiple Olympic wrestling medals. In 2025, at 33, she won a fourth world title with an inside-trip takedown six seconds from the end, and in 2026 she was defending a Real American Freestyle title.
Tap a technique with an arrow to learn how it works.
- Olympic champion (2016)
- Olympic bronze medalist (2020, 2024)
- World champion ×4 (2015, 2017, 2021, 2025)
- Pan American Games champion (2011)
- Real American Freestyle women's bantamweight champion
- NCAA women's top-wrestler trophy renamed the Anthony-Maroulis Trophy (2026)
Defining matches
- 2016WINvs Saori Yoshida (Rio Olympic final, 4-1)
- 2018LOSSvs Alyona Kolesnik (World Championships first round, fall)
- 20243rd Paris Olympics (bronze, third Olympic medal)
- 2025WINvs Son Il-sim (World final, 3-2, winning takedown with 6 seconds left)
- 2026WINvs Anhelina Lysak (Real American Freestyle, Tbilisi, 8-2)
Keep a finish in the tank for the last ten seconds: Maroulis won her fourth world title by powering through an inside trip with six seconds left. Drill the inside trip from your favorite tie at the end of hard live rounds, when you're tired.
1990–2004
