USA Wrestling had an opportunity to share the glory from the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England with the sell-out crowd at the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.

Just prior to the semifinals on Friday night, Olympic champions Jordan Burroughs and Jake Varner received their special Olympic champion rings on center mat from USA Wrestling President Jim Ravannack and National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones.

In a chilling display of support for Olympic wrestling, the crowd chanted “USA-USA” as the Olympic champions received their rings and displayed them.

Burroughs won the Olympic gold medal at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Varner won the Olympic gold medal at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Burroughs was a 2011 World champion and Varner was a 2011 World bronze medalist.

Both of these great champions were two-time NCAA champions during their college careers, Burroughs for the University of Nebraska, and Varner for Iowa State University.

Both Burroughs and Varner have continued to train and compete, focused on winning additional gold medals for the United States. Both have been leading spokesmen on the effort to Keep Olympic Wrestling.