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At one point in his prestigious wrestling career, Kyle Snyder, who goes by the nickname Captain America, was the platonic ideal of a superstar athlete. He is an Olympic gold medalist who says his prayers, eats his vitamins, and is a family man.
But like one Hulk Hogan before him (albeit in a different type of wrestling), Snyder strayed from the path. Last month, the four-time World and Olympic champion was caught in a prostitution sting in Columbus, Ohio, where he spent his college career. Ultimately, Snyder pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, paid a small fine, and completed a one-day program for people accused of solicitation.
Kyle Snyder makes his 11th straight world/Olympic Team 💪 pic.twitter.com/tPuZXG9m36
— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) June 14, 2025
On Saturday, Snyder returned to the mat for his first competition since the arrest. He comfortably defeated his opponent, Hayden Zillmer, in two consecutive matches in their best two out of three series, making the World/Olympic team for the 11th consecutive year.
But while every other wrestler who qualified for the team on Saturday in Newark, New Jersey met with members of the media afterward to discuss their accomplishment, Snyder was notably absent.
Following the arrest, Snyder put out a statement on social media.
“I want to thank everyone who has reached out with kindness and support,” the statement began. “My focus is on my relationship with the Lord Jesus and my family. This is not conclusion of my journey. 1 Peter 4:17-18.”
That’s fair enough. Snyder doesn’t owe anyone anything solely because he is an extremely successful athlete. But Snyder is no Charles Barkley. He does want to be a role model. And part of being a role model is being accountable not only to your family and whatever deity you worship, but also to the public.
Maybe he will be in the future. But he wasn’t on Saturday on one of the biggest stages the sport has to offer in the United States.