Tokyo-bound Helen Maroulis wrestles at first USA team camp after sharing difficult side to qualifying
ROCKVILLE, Md. (BVM) — With the much-delayed Tokyo Olympics now less than 100 days away, wrestler Helen Maroulis, a Rockville native, is currently in Colorado Springs for her first team training camp. After wrestling at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Maroulis became the first woman in USA history to win gold and now she has the opportunity to defend her title.
But at the Olympic Team Trials, which took place in early April, Maroulis’ final match which ultimately snatched her a spot on Team USA led to a rollercoaster of emotions. She later shared the emotional trials she faced in the midst of her victory.
“You train and do life with these men/women sometimes day in and day out, often year after year,” wrote Maroulis in an Instagram post. “One day you’re at camp with them, sight-seeing, cracking jokes, competing together on World Cup teams, or going to World Championships at different weights. Your families sit in the stands together cheering on Team USA, celebrating with and for each other after, or encouraging one another when it doesn’t go the way we hoped and planned but always good times in the end. Living the dream, sharing the dream… The next moment you’re competing against them.”
This came to fruition when Maroulis took on Jenna Bukert to fight for the spot to get on Team USA. With everything on the line, it took Maroulis just 24 seconds into the last round to end Burkert’s journey to Tokyo.
“You’re not trying to take something from them, you’re just trying to earn something for yourself,” Maroulis continued in the post. “Your dream, your goal, but it’s theirs too. It feels amazing when you accomplish what you set out to do. But it also hurts. You feel all the range of the emotions, because you’ve been in the sport long enough that you’ve done so much life together.”
Maroulis was ultimately victorious with a 2-1 victory and Bukert was devastated. Even though Maroulis was happy that she just secured her spot on Team USA, she was also hurt to see Bukert cry over her defeat.
“So Olympic trials—they’re just a different animal,” Maroulis continued in the post. “It’s not USA against the World. It’s you versus your brothers/sisters… It’s heart wrenching… and at the end of it all, you’re happy and you’re hurting… You go through trials together, then you go to Trials together.”
Maroulis eventually put herself first and celebrated her victory as she had just qualified for her second consecutive Olympics. She was one of the most celebrated athletes following her historic win over four years ago and she’s hoping to win gold again this summer.
It has been three weeks since the Trials and now Maroulis is training to not disappoint. She has joined other wrestlers who also made the Olympic team including Adeline Gray, Tamyra Mariama Mensah Stock, Kayla Miracle, Jacarra Winchester and Sarah Hildebrandt. Maroulis on her Instagram shared a glimpse of the current training camp resort that the group is staying in. She also shared her excitement for the wrestling room they get to train in.
“First Olympic team camp has been great so far,” Maroulis wrote.
