There have been several exceptional athletes in the combat sports realm, but no one has been able to accomplish what Henry Cejudo did. At only 32 years of age, ‘Triple C‘ had an Olympic gold medal in wrestling and two UFC championships under his belt.
Henry’s life is the embodiment of the American Dream and has proven that no matter where one comes from, one can still accomplish great things. Henry was born on February 9, 1987, in Los Angeles, and his parents were reportedly illegal immigrants from Mexico. Being one among seven siblings and raised by a single mother, Cejudo had to endure a lot of hardships early in his childhood.
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Despite the struggle, Cejudo would go on to be one of the best ever to do it. The 36-year-old has fought through killer’s row in the UFC, facing the likes of Demetrious Johnson, Dominick Cruz, T.J. Dillashaw, and more. However, fans often overlook his wrestling career, a path that was really essential in shaping who he has become today and what he has achieved.
Henry Cejudo – What are Triple C’s wrestling achievements?
As per Henry, his older brother Angel Cejudo inspired him to practice wrestling, and very soon he realized he had a natural ability on the mat. Angel at the time was a four-time AIA wrestling state champion, with an undefeated record of 150 wins. Cejudo would go on to win the freshman and sophomore titles in Arizona, before moving to Colorado Springs, Colorado. During his time at Colorado, he became a resident athlete at the US Olympic Training Center.
The Mexican-American made his senior-level debut in October 2005 at the Sunkist Open at the mere age of 18. He secured victories over NCAA champion Jason Powell and three-time All-American Tanner Gardner. Participation in two Junior World Championships placed him fifth and second in 2005 and 2006 respectively. The year 2006 also saw Cejudo become the first high schooler to win U.S. Nationals, since USA Wrestling’s formation in 1983.
In total, ‘Triple C’ has captured four wrestling state championships during high school, two in Colorado and two prior in Arizona. He was also bestowed the title of ASICS National High School Wrestler of the Year in 2006.
In terms of wrestling accomplishments, the only major thing one can perhaps say Henry didn’t achieve was the NCAA title. However, it was only due to his decision to skip college and instead accept an offer from USA Wrestling to train at their main facilities in Colorado.
Cejudo won the Olympic gold medal in 2008
During his freestyle wrestling career, Henry earned a gold medal at the 2007 Pan American Games and was a three-time gold medalist of the Pan American Champions. He achieved medals in the 121-pound weight class in 2006, 2007, and 2008. He also captured a bronze medal at the 2007 Wrestling World Cup. The former two-division UFC champion also competed in the World Championships in 2007.
In 2008, Henry Cejudo faced Tomohiro Matsunaga, a Japanese wrestler, in the 2008 Summer Olympics. Henry, for the first time in his wrestling career, was able to snatch the first two periods which helped him secure the gold medal. This win made him the youngest Mexican-American athlete ever to win a gold medal at 21 years of age. The said record stood until 2016 when Kyle Snyder won the Olympic gold at the age of 20.
At the 2012 US Olympic Team Trials, Henry suffered a defeat at the hands of Nick Simmons. Followed by this, the UFC vet removed and put his shoes on the mat, signaling his official retirement from the sport. The NWHOF (National Wrestling Hall of Fame) has also inducted Cejudo as a Distinguished Member of the Class of 2018.