USA Wrestling and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee have announced that the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling will be held at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, April 2-3.
The champions from the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling will become eligible to represent the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, August 1-7, 2021.
“USA Wrestling is extremely grateful to the Fort Worth Sports Authority, the incredible Dickies Arena and Texas USA Wrestling for their tireless efforts to host one of the most important wrestling events in the history of American wrestling,” said Rich Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director. “We are excited for not only the wrestling fans all over the globe, but, most importantly, our nation’s very best Olympic hopefuls who will compete on this world class stage for the coveted right to represent the United States of America at the Tokyo Olympic Games. No event in our sport provides more drama and emotion than the U.S. Olympic Team Trials and this year’s event will be no exception. A special thanks to our friends at Penn State University who made a valiant effort to host this year’s event. We are excited to be in Happy Valley in three short years for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials,” said Rich Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director.
This will be the fifth straight U.S. Olympic Team Trials in which all three Olympic wrestling teams were determined at the same time, with men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman all featured in the event. The previous U.S. Olympic Team Trials with all three teams determined were in Indianapolis (2004), Las Vegas (2008) and Iowa City (2012, 2016).
Dickies Arena, which is adjacent to the Will Rogers Memorial Center campus, is an exciting, state-of- the-art venue for events of all kinds, including concerts, sports, community events and the Fort Worth Stock Show rodeo performances. Dickies Arena opened in November 2019.
“We take great pride in hosting world-class sporting events at Dickies Arena,” said Matt Homan, president and general manager of Trail Drive Management Corp., the not-for-profit operating entity of Dickies Arena. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to safely welcome USA Wrestling and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee as they host the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials this April.”
The competition will be conducted with the assistance of the Fort Worth Sports Commission and Texas USA Wrestling.
“Being selected as the host city for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials is a tremendous honor,” said Jason Sands, director of the Fort Worth Sports Commission. “We look forward to working with our hospitality and community partners to provide a safe and memorable experience for the USOPC, USA Wrestling and their athletes, coaches and fans.”
Information on discounted hotels for athletes and coaches will be forthcoming in the next week.
A limited number of spectators will be permitted. Ticket information will be available soon.
On February 6, 2021, USA Wrestling, Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics and the USOPC announced that the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling, originally scheduled for April 4-5, 2020 at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pa. would be moved.
The competition will be held in the 18 Olympic weight classes in wrestling, which includes six weight classes in men’s freestyle (57 kg, 65 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 97 kg, 125 kg), women’s wrestling (50 kg, 53 kg, 57 kg, 62 kg, 68 kg, 76 kg) and Greco-Roman (60 kg, 67 kg, 77 kg, 87 kg, 97 kg, 130 kg).
Currently, the United States has qualified to compete in the Tokyo Games at 15 of the 18 weight classes, with only three weight classes remaining to qualify (77 kg Greco-Roman, 130 kg Greco-Roman, 65 kg men’s freestyle).
Fort Worth becomes only the 10th U.S. city to host a U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling since USA Wrestling became national governing body for wrestling in the United States in 1983. The only previous time it was held in Texas was in 2000, when Dallas hosted the event.
U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS – Freestyle
1984 – Allendale, Mich.
1988 – Pensacola, Fla.
1992 – Pittsburgh, Pa.
1996 – Spokane, Wash.
2000 – Dallas, Texas
2004 – Indianapolis, Ind.
2008 – Las Vegas, Nev.
2012 – Iowa City, Iowa
2016 – Iowa City, Iowa
2021 – Fort Worth, Texas
U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS – Greco-Roma
1984 – Allendale, Mich.
1988 – Pensacola, Fla.
1992 – Concord, Calif.
1996 – Concord, Calif.
2000 – Dallas, Texas
2004 – Indianapolis, Ind.
2008 – Las Vegas, Nev.
2012 – Iowa City, Iowa
2016 – Iowa City, Iowa
2021 – Fort Worth, Texas
U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS – Women’s Freestyle
2004 – Indianapolis, Ind.
2008 – Las Vegas, Nev.
2012 – Iowa City, Iowa
2016 – Iowa City, Iowa
2021 – Fort Worth, Texas
ABOUT THE FORT WORTH SPORTS COMMISSIO
The Fort Worth Sports Commission advances the city as an international sports destination. A division of Visit Fort Worth, the Sports Commission attracts youth, collegiate and professional events that deliver economic impact and boost Fort Worth’s image. The Commission supports development of and access to facilities that enhance the quality of life for all Fort Worth. For more information, visit FortWorthSports.com and follow on Instagram and Twitter @FortWorthSports.
ABOUT DICKIES ARENA
Dickies Arena is a 14,000 seat, spectacular multipurpose venue located adjacent to the Will Rogers Memorial Center campus in Fort Worth, Texas. The facility is the result of a pioneering public-private partnership between the City of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, the State of Texas and a group of private-sector participants, including foundations, individuals and organizations. The arena is owned by the City of Fort Worth and managed by the not-for-profit operating entity, Trail Drive Management Corp. (TDMC). The state-of-the-art arena hosts concerts, sporting events and family entertainment, and is home to Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo performances. For more information, visit www.dickiesarena.com.
