Helen Maroulis
_(cropped).jpg?lang=en) Maroulis in 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Helen Louise Maroulis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | September 19, 1991 (age 34) Rockville, Maryland, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Simon Fraser University | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 3 in (160 cm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Country | United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Wrestling | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight class | 57 kg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Event | Freestyle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Terry Steiner | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Helen Louise Maroulis (/məˈruːlɪs/ mə-ROO-liss; born September 19, 1991)[1] is an American freestyle wrestler who competes in the women's 55-kg, 53-kg, and 57-kg categories. She has won four gold medals at the World Championships, the first in 2015 and most recently in 2025. At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, she became the first-ever American to win a gold medal in women's freestyle wrestling at the Olympic Games.[2][3][4]
She is currently signed to Real American Freestyle (RAF), where she will debut against Samantha Stewart at RAF 02 on October 25, 2025.
Background
[edit]Maroulis was born in Rockville, Maryland,[4] the daughter of Paula and Yiannis "John" Maroulis.[5] Her father is Greek.[6] She attended Magruder High School for three years, where as a freshman she became the first female wrestler to place at the Maryland state wrestling championships.[7] Maroulis was also named Most Outstanding Wrestler of a tournament, by pinning a senior boy who had won the year before, and finished high school with 99 career victories.[8]
She then moved to Marquette Senior High School in Marquette, Michigan and then went to join Missouri Baptist University women's wrestling team in Saint Louis, Missouri, before ultimately transferring to compete for Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.[9] At the age-group level, Maroulis was a three-time Junior World medalist (bronze in 2008 & 2010, silver in 2011).[5] Maroulis converted to Christianity while in college, and found comfort in religion after failing to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics.[10]
As of 2014, she trained at the U.S. Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan University.[5] Her grandparents emigrated to the United States from the Greek island Kalamos in the 1960s. Maroulis visited her father's island a few weeks after her victory at Rio, and was given an award by the local community.[11]
Rio Summer Olympics 2016
[edit]Maroulis beat Japan's Saori Yoshida 4–1 to win a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. This was the first Olympic gold medal for the United States in a women's wrestling event.[12]
World Championship 2017
[edit]Maroulis won her third consecutive gold medal at the world championships or Olympics, defeating Olympic bronze medalist Marwa Amri of Tunisia in the final of the 58-kilogram/128-pound weight class with an 11-0 technical fall.[13]
Pro Wrestling League
[edit]On January 16, 2018, Pooja Dhanda defeated Maroulis in the Pro Wrestling League.[14][15]
World Championship 2018
[edit]Maroulis was defeated in the first round by fall by Azerbaijan's Alyona Kolesnik, a shocking upset for the defending world and Olympic champion. The defeat was attributed to a serious head injury (a concussion from a tournament in January 2018).[16] As Maroulis stated in post-match interview, "I'm so used to telling someone, hey, don't touch my head." The injury caused Maroulis to delay her world team qualifier match, and significantly limited her live sparring prior to the event. It was reported she was so limited by the injury that she only returned to live practice about 10 days before her rescheduled qualifying series.[17]
Tokyo Summer Olympics 2020
[edit]Maroulis won a bronze medal by defeating Mongolia's Khongorzul Boldsaikhan after controversially losing to Risako Kawai of Japan in the 57 kg semifinals. With the bronze medal, Maroulis became the first female wrestler in U.S. history to win two Olympic medals.[18]
Ivan Yariguin Grand Prix 2022
[edit]Maroulis won a gold medal in the 57 kg final by forfeit as her opponent Olga Khoroshavtseva of Russia withdrew.[19][20]
Pan American Championships 2024
[edit]In 2024, she won the gold medal in the women's 57 kg event at the Pan American Wrestling Championships held in Acapulco, Mexico.[21] She defeated Giullia Penalber of Brazil in her gold medal match.[21]
Paris Summer Olympics 2024
[edit]In 2024, she became the first female American wrestler to have qualified for three Olympics, upon qualifying for the 2024 Olympics.[22] She qualified for the Olympics at the 2024 United States Olympic trials held in State College, Pennsylvania.[citation needed]
On 9 August 2024, she won the bronze medal in the 57 kg women's freestyle wrestling event with a victory over Hannah Taylor of Canada.[23]
IBJJF No Gi World Championship 2024
[edit]Maroulis made her Brazilian jiu-jitsu debut at the IBJJF No Gi World Championship 2024, where she competed in the lightweight blue belt division.[24] She won all five matches and a took a gold medal in her weight class.[25]
Real American Freestyle 2025
[edit]She signed with Real American Freestyle (RAF), and will debut at RAF 02 on October 25, 2025 against Samantha Stewart.[26]
Match results
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "MAROULIS Helen Louis". Paris 2024 Olympics. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- ^ "Helen Maroulis to face Venezuela's Marcia Andrades at Beat The Streets". The Open Mat. May 4, 2014. Archived from the original on May 8, 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
- ^ Goldich, Mitch (July 19, 2021). "Q&A: Helen Maroulis's Difficult Path Back to the Olympics". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
- ^ a b Woodyatt, Amy (April 11, 2023). "Helen Maroulis: Concussions left her on the 'edge of insanity.' Now, this Olympic wrestler is back and has titles in her sights". CNN. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Athlete Bio: Helen Maroulis". TeamUSA.org. Archived from the original on November 2, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
- ^ Chrysopoulos, Philip (August 19, 2016). "Who Is Olympic Gold Medalist Helen Maroulis". USA.GreekReporter.com. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
- ^ "Magruder's Maroulis Makes Maryland History".
- ^ "Rockville's Maroulis eyes spot on U.S. Olympic women's wrestling squad - Washington Times". The Washington Times.
- ^ "Simon Fraser University | Canada Clan Alumna Helen Maroulis Wins Wrestling Gold for USA at Rio 2016". Athletics.sfu.ca. August 18, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
- ^ Ellsworth, Tim (August 16, 2016). "Olympics: Wrestler Helen Maroulis content with God's plan". Baptist Press. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
- ^ Σάντα, Βιολέττα (September 10, 2016). "Ο Κάλαμος τίμησε την Ολυμπιονίκη Ελένη Μαρούλη - aromalefkadas - Ενημερωτική ιστοσελίδα της Λευκάδας". aromalefkadas - Ενημερωτική ιστοσελίδα της Λευκάδας - Άρωμα Λευκάδας.
- ^ "Helen Maroulis Wins First Gold Medal for U.S. in Women's Wrestling". Time. Archived from the original on September 17, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
- ^ "Helen Maroulis' dominance continues as she wins gold at world championships". USA Today.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling League: Pooja Dhanda stuns Olympic champion Helen Marouli as Punjab Royals beat Haryana Hammers - Firstpost". www.firstpost.com. January 17, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
- ^ Scroll Staff. "PWL: Pooja Dhanda stuns Olympic champion Helen Maroulis again as Punjab Royals defend title". Scroll.in. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
- ^ "Helen Maroulis wrestled in the dark with concussion". May 16, 2018.
- ^ "Helen Maroulis' world championships streak ends after life-altering year". October 24, 2018.
- ^ "Helen Maroulis didn't need history-making bronze to prove Olympic success isn't measured in medals". USA Today. August 5, 2021.
- ^ "Maroulis Wins Gold, Kilty Silver, Snyder and Nolf Advance to Yariguin Finals". January 29, 2022. Archived from the original on January 30, 2022.
- ^ "Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin 2022 Results Book" (PDF). United World Wrestling. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 16, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
- ^ a b "2024 Pan American Wrestling Championships Results Book" (PDF). United World Wrestling. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 28, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
- ^ "Maroulis makes history, reaches Olympics again". ESPN.com. April 21, 2024.
- ^ "Helen Maroulis Wins Bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics". August 9, 2024.
- ^ de Souza, Diogo (November 29, 2024). "Olympic Champion Wrestler Helen Maroulis Enters IBJJF No Gi World Championship 2024 At Blue Belt". Jits Magazine. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
- ^ Burne, Kathrine (December 13, 2024). "Olympic Champion Helen Maroulis Wins IBJJF No Gi World Championship 2024 At Blue Belt". Jits Magazine. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
- ^ Brunt, Cliff (September 25, 2025). "Olympic gold medalist Helen Maroulis signs with Real American Freestyle wrestling". Associated Press. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
External links
[edit]
- Helen Louise Maroulis at United World Wrestling
- Helen Louise Maroulis at the International Wrestling Database
- Helen Louise Maroulis at Olympics.com
- Helen Louise Maroulis at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics
- Helen Maroulis at Olympedia
- Helen Maroulis at USA Wrestling
- Helen Maroulis at Team USA (archive October 8, 2021)
- Helen Maroulis at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics at the Wayback Machine (archived August 26, 2016)
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- 1991 births
- 21st-century American sportswomen
- American female sport wrestlers
- American people of Greek descent
- Christians from Maryland
- Living people
- Medalists at the 2011 Pan American Games
- Medalists at the 2016 Summer Olympics
- Medalists at the 2020 Summer Olympics
- Medalists at the 2024 Summer Olympics
- Missouri Baptist Spartans athletes
- Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in wrestling
- Olympic gold medalists for the United States in wrestling
- Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in wrestling
- Real American Freestyle female wrestlers
- Simon Fraser Red Leafs women's wrestlers
- Sportspeople from Rockville, Maryland
- Sportspeople of Greek descent
- World Wrestling Championships medalists
- Wrestlers at the 2011 Pan American Games
- Wrestlers at the 2016 Summer Olympics
- Wrestlers at the 2020 Summer Olympics
- Wrestlers at the 2024 Summer Olympics