Nebraska wrestlers have enjoyed success during their collegiate years, but quite a few have continued their careers on the international level and also achieved lofty accomplishments there. NU wrestling was especially in the spotlight during the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, where two former Huskers, Rulon Gardner and Matt Lindland, proudly competed for the United States.

Gardner, a 1993 All-American at Nebraska, pulled off one of the most remarkable upsets in sports history. Gardner captured the attention of the nation with his dramatic 1-0 overtime victory over previously undefeated Alexander Karelin of Russia to take the Greco-Roman heavyweight gold medal. Gardner was a two-year letterwinner for the Huskers and posted a collegiate career of 58-15-2 while at Nebraska.

Lindland, a 1993 Big 12 champion for the Huskers, was equally as impressive in Sydney, earning a silver medal at the 76 kilogram (167.5 pound) weight class of the Greco-Roman division. Lindland was a three-year letterwinner for the Huskers, compiling a career record of 60-15.

Two-time NCAA champion Jordan Burroughs won the freestyle gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. He defeated Iran’s Sadegh Saeed Goudarzi to win at 163 pounds. In addition, Burroughs has captured World titles in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017. He also wrestled at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

Below is the complete list of Nebraska wrestlers that have competed in the Olympics, including the weight and division in which they competed.

 

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NU at the International Level

Nebraska wrestlers have enjoyed success during their collegiate years, but quite a few have continued their careers on the international level and also achieved lofty accomplishments there. Huskers have won 23 medals at the World Championships, including titles by Bill Scherr in 1986, Rulon Gardner in 2001 and Jordan Burroughs in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017. Brad Vering was named the 2007 Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year by USA Wrestling after his silver medal performance at the 2007 FILA World Championships. Listed below are achievements Nebraska wrestlers have attained in international competition, including the weight at which they competed.

World Championships

Year	Wrestler	Division	Weight	Place
1961	Dan Brand	Freestyle	87 kg	4th
	Dan Brand	Greco-Roman	87 kg	5th
1962	Dan Brand	Greco-Roman	97 kg	Bronze
1963	Jim Raschke	Greco-Roman	HWT	Bronze
1966	Jim Raschke	Greco-Roman	HWT	DNP
1985	Bill Scherr	Freestyle	90 kg	Gold
1986	Bill Scherr	Freestyle	100 kg	Silver
	Jim Scherr	Freestyle	90 kg	Bronze
1987	Jim Scherr	Freestyle	90 kg	Silver
	Bill Scherr	Freestyle	100 kg	Bronze
1989	Bill Scherr	Freestyle	100 kg	Silver
	Jim Scherr	Freestyle	90 kg	Silver
1997	Rulon Gardner	Greco-Roman	130 kg	5th
	Tony Purler	Freestyle	58 kg	10th
	Matt Lindland	Greco-Roman	76 kg	DNP
1998	Matt Lindland	Greco-Roman	76 kg	6th
	Tony Purler	Freestyle	58 kg	11th
1999	Matt Lindland	Greco-Roman	76 kg	DNP
2001	Rulon Gardner	Greco-Roman	130 kg	Gold
	Matt Lindland	Greco-Roman	85 kg	Silver
2002	Brad Vering	Greco-Roman	84 kg	5th
2003	Brad Vering	Greco-Roman	84 kg	5th
	Rulon Gardner	Greco-Roman	120 kg	10th
	Justin Ruiz	Greco-Roman	96 kg	DNP
2005	Justin Ruiz	Greco-Roman	96 kg	Bronze
	Tolly Thompson	Freestyle	120 kg	Bronze
	Brad Vering	Greco-Roman	84 kg	DNP
2006	Justin Ruiz	Greco-Roman	96 kg	DNP
	Tolly Thompson	Freestyle	120 kg	DNP
2007	Brad Vering	Greco-Roman	84 kg	Silver
	Justin Ruiz	Greco-Roman	96 kg	DNP
2010	Justin Ruiz	Greco-Roman	96 kg	5th
2011	Jordan Burroughs	Freestyle	74 kg	Gold
	Justin Ruiz	Greco-Roman	96 kg	DNP
2013	Jordan Burroughs	Freestyle	74 kg	Gold
2014	Jordan Burroughs	Freestyle	74 kg	Bronze
2015	Jordan Burroughs	Freestyle	74 kg	Gold
	James Green	Freestyle	70 kg	Bronze
2017	Jordan Burroughs	Freestyle	74 kg	Gold
	James Green	Freestyle	70 kg	Silver
2018	James Green	Freestyle	70 kg	DNP
	Jordan Burroughs	Freestyle	74 kg	Bronze
2019	James Green	Freestyle	70 kg	DNP
	Jordan Burroughs	Freestyle	74 kg	Bronze

World Cup Champions

Year	Wrestler	Weight
1986	Jim Scherr (Individual - FS)	82 kg
1989	Jim Scherr (Individual - FS)	90 kg
	Bill Scherr (Individual - FS)	100 kg
1996	Matt Lindland (Individual - FS)	74 kg
	Rulon Gardner (Individual - GR)	130 kg
2012	Jordan Burroughs (Individual - FS)	74 kg
2013	Jordan Burroughs (Individual - FS)	74 kg
2014	Jordan Burroughs (Individual - FS)	74 kg
2015	Jordan Burroughs (Individual - FS)	74 kg
2017	Jordan Burroughs (Individual - FS)	74 kg
2018	Jordan Burroughs (Individual and Team - FS)	74 kg
	James Green (Team - FS)	70 kg

Pan-American Champions

Year	Wrestler	Weight
1994	Matt Lindland (FS)	74 kg
1996	Ryan Tobin (FS)	90 kg
1999	Matt Lindland (GR)	76 kg
2011	Jordan Burroughs (FS)	74 kg
2015	Jordan Burroughs (FS)	74 kg
2017	James Green (FS)	70 kg
2018	James Green (FS)	70 kg
2020	Jordan Burroughs (FS)	74 kg

 

Goodwill Games

Year	Wrestler	Weight	Place
1990	Bill Scherr	100 kg	1st
	Jim Scherr	90 kg	2nd

Note: Nebraska Assistant Coach Brad Penrith (1992-97) finished third at 57 kg at the 1994 Goodwill Games.