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Dan Gable reflected on Gable Steveson's loss at the 2025 Nationals and how he was taken back to his final match in college. Steveson, who took the mat undefeated in the heavyweight category, succumbed to Wyatt Hendrickson of Oklahoma in the Nationals.
Gable Steveson was named after the legendary Dan Gable, often considered one of the greatest wrestlers in the US. Gable won two NCAA Division I titles, an Olympic and a World gold, besides getting inducted into the United World Wrestling's Hall of Fame in the Legend category. Steveson has forged a similar trajectory, boasting two NCAA titles and an Olympic gold medal.
Steveson faced Oklahoma's Wyatt Hendrickson in the 285 lb category finals at the recently concluded NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. Despite his best efforts, the Olympic champion succumbed to Hendrickson in the closing sets and walked home with a silver.
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Interestingly, Dan Gable was undefeated in high school and college, losing his last match to then-Washington sophomore Larry Owings at the 1970 NCAA Championships. He was reminded of his defeat on seeing Gable and recently reflected on the heartbreaking night, saying (via FloWrestling, 1:20 onwards):
"You're never a sure win...I don't like going back on my own career on certain things, but when you have a guy named Gable Dan Steveson, it's pretty close. I'm honored to have that name, to have somebody else have it, but I certainly didn't want to have feelings that were bad or negative or bringing me back to the old time of my last match in college. But it did. It was more than that. It was about Gable Steveson."
"When it comes back and you analyze it, you figure it out. You figure out how you could have won that match. The reason why you figure it out is because he's not going to wrestle anymore in college, and he might not wrestle anymore in the Olympics, or he may, or he may not. But you're going to wrestle with life forever.." he added.
Gable won several honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2020.
Gable Steveson shared his feelings after a loss in the 2025 NCAA finals
Gable Steveson had one of the most impressive collegiate careers, amassing four Big Ten titles and two National champion titles, among others. However, he couldn't add another to his list. But despite the loss, he was proud to have garnered massive viewership to the sport and take it to new highs.
"Bumps in the road gone happen, that’s what makes sports so crazy! But we live for moments like these and I am just fine!! In the end Wins and Losses will never define what I tried to do for the sport of wrestling.. The attraction, viewership, and showmanship always meant the most to me when I stepped out on the mat. To give it the light it deserves..." he wrote on Instagram.
Gable Steveson competed in WWE between 2021 and 2024 and left after a poorly televised match. He also signed with the Buffalo Bills in the NFL but didn't play.
