Jacob Stephen "Jake" Varner (born March 24, 1986) is an American wrestler. Varner won the gold medal in the 96 kg category at the 2012 Summer Olympics in freestyle wrestling.[1][2][3]
![]() Jake Varner in 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Jacob Stephen Varner | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nationality | American | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | (1986-03-24) March 24, 1986 (age 36) Bakersfield, California, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 212 lb (96 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | Wrestling | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Event(s) | Freestyle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
College team | Iowa State Cyclones | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Club | Nittany Lion Wrestling Club | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coached by | Cael Sanderson | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Updated on August 13, 2012. |
Varner wrestled collegiately for the Iowa State University Cyclones. He was a four-time NCAA Division I finalist and two-time NCAA Division I champion (junior and senior). In high school, he was also a two-time California wrestling state champion for Bakersfield High School in Bakersfield, California, where was coached by his uncle Andy, who served as head coach, and his father Steve, who served as an assistant. Varner has been an assistant wrestling coach at Penn State since 2016.[4]
In 2022, Varner was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member.[5]
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2012 USA Olympic Wrestling Team | ||
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Men's Greco-Roman |
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Women's freestyle |
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Men's freestyle |
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Men's Greco-Roman coaches |
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Women's freestyle coaches |
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Men's freestyle coaches |
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