SportsAsToldByAGirl Spotlight: Helen Maroulis

Helen Maroulis made history this year at the Rio Olympics.   Despite her impressive performance,  she has not received the media attention like other Team USA athletes,  but that’s why Maroulis had to be this week’s spotlight! Check out these 5 facts about this underrated Olympic athlete!

1. She Didn’t Make The Olympic Team At First

At age 21, Helen Maroulis participated in the Olympic Trials to try to make the final team. Unfortunately for Maroulis, her dream was cut short when she lost in the Olympic Trials final. As heartbreaking as it was for her, she channeled it and still attended the Olympics. She actually went to help the rest of the team which is really admirable because it’s one thing to be there as a competitor but another to go help the women who beat you out for the starting job. I have a lot of respect for Maroulis for doing that.

2. She Made Olympic History This Year

At the Olympics this past summer, Maroulis faced off against Saori Yoshida. Yoshida is one of the greatest female wrestlers in the world and has competed very well at the Olympics. She had previously been undefeated in 2004, 2008 and 2012 as well as becoming the most decorated freestyle wrestler of all time, but that streak came to end this year. Maroulis defeated her in five rounds, winning four of those and becoming the first woman to win gold in wrestling.

She spent a lot of time training and working towards beating Yoshida. It wasn’t only a great victory for the United States but a personal one for Maroulis.

3. Her Gold Medal Was Overshadowed By Lochte

The robbery heard around the world was talked about more than Maroulis’ award. She was actually asked about it because it happened the day before she won her medal. Obviously, she wasn’t happy about it but she was very polite and even gave a funny response when asked about it.

“Yesterday was about stepping on the mat and just wrestling to the best of my ability and really taking joy in what I do. If they covered Ryan Lochte over my match, well, I think that’s a poor decision on their part, but I’m not running the show. My job is to be a wrestler, and I stepped on the mat and did what I needed to do. I’m happy with the results.”

4. She Penned An Article For Sports Illustrated

Even being an Olympic athlete doesn’t guarantee security and in her article for Sports Illustrated, Maroulis addressed that. In the article, she gives some background into her early life and basically a timeline on how she became a 25-year old gold medalist. The article is emotional, heartfelt and tells the story of a woman, just trying to live her life while having to be a “tough” person.

I won’t give away too much from the article because it’s worth a read. Here’s a short passage to give you a little taste of who Maroulis is and what she stands for: “I also learned that anxiety has a well-worn passport. Mine became my travel companion: London, China, even Rio. At the Olympics, you watched me pin a champion. You saw me accept my gold. Maybe you even cried a little when I carried our country’s flag over my shoulders. I made you feel alive. But in Rio, I couldn’t breathe.”

5. She’s A Baltimore Ravens Fan

Growing up in Rockville, Maryland, Maroulis was and still is a Baltimore Ravens fan. In her article, she spoke about becoming the first female to lead the team’s pre-game huddle speech which is a huge deal. Considering how many people have probably done that before, Maroulis made history…at least for the Ravens. You can tell how much she cares about the team too especially in the small details she shares.

Here’s hoping Helen Maroulis makes it to the 2020 Olympics and makes the U.S. proud…again!