United States Olympic trials (wrestling)

To represent the United States at the Summer Olympic Games, an American wrestler must qualify nationally by winning the US Olympic team trials tournament, and internationally, by either placing fifth or higher at the previous year's World Championships or by becoming a finalist at the Pan American Olympic Qualifier or at a World Olympic Qualifier.[3] The athlete who qualifies their weight class for the Summer Olympics is not guaranteed of a spot in the team, as he must qualify nationally.[4] In case of an athlete qualifying nationally but failing to qualify the weight class internationally, the United States will not be represented at the Games.[5]

The first edition of the US Olympic team trials for wrestling took place from June 16 to 23 of 1984, when USA Wrestling dictated they would no longer select the wrestlers they sent to the Summer Olympic Games or the World Championships, as they would now hold an event where qualifying would now be on the hands of the athletes.[6] Bob Dellinger, tournament operations director for the organization, expressed:

"We have brought these ladder challenges the actual final trials for the Olympic team out of a training camp situation and have placed them before the public. Many times in the past, the qualifying tournaments were sold to the public as "final trials,' when in reality the team was selected in the seclusion of a training camp. These are not selections, they are trials. The decisions will be made on the mat, by athletes who have been training hard for a year or more for this opportunity. Our fans deserve the right to watch the Olympic team take shape."