The wrestling community rallied together on a humid July evening at Kettle Moraine High School in Wisconsin. What began as Ben Askren’s vision to showcase wrestling to new audiences had transformed into something far more urgent. It was a desperate attempt to help the former Olympian navigate crushing medical expenses following a life-saving double lung transplant.
As hundreds of spectators filled Culver’s Stadium by 5 PM, they came not just for the wrestling matches, music, and food trucks, but to support a man who had given so much to their community.
The event’s website made the stakes clear: “All proceeds will go toward Ben Askren’s medical care as he fights his way back from an emergent health crisis and subsequent lung transplant.”
Among those in attendance was Ava Shaikh, a wrestler at Kettle Moraine High School who knows Askren as more than just a former Olympic competitor. “He is everything. He is a coach. And not only that, he loves the sport and he loves the kids as well… He treats you like family,” she explained, capturing the sentiment that drew so many to the fundraiser.
The evening’s most poignant moment came through an act that left even Askren’s closest friends surprised. Charlie Wiza, Kettle Moraine Assistant Superintendent and longtime friend of the wrestler, had approached Askren seeking a simple autographed item for the auction. What happened next revealed the depth of Askren’s sacrifice.
“I was with him this weekend. I said, ‘Hey, could you maybe sign something that I could raffle off.’ And he went into his closet and tossed me his singlet. It was his Olympic singlet. I said, ‘I can’t take this Ben,'” Wiza recounted to TMJ4.
The singlet represented far more than athletic apparel. Askren wore it during his 2008 Beijing Olympics appearance, where he advanced through the first round before falling in the quarterfinals. While his Olympic journey ended earlier than hoped, the garment symbolized years of dedication, sacrifice, and the achievement of representing his country on the world’s biggest stage.
Yet faced with medical bills reportedly reaching $2 million, even this treasured memento had to go. Askren was confined to his hospital bed and unable to organize the event as originally planned, but he somehow convinced his hesitant friend to proceed with the auction.
Askren’s recovery has been far from smooth. Less than a week after his initial discharge, the former wrestler found himself back in the hospital due to a chest infection discovered during his first post-operative checkup.
From his hospital bed, he shared an update on Instagram: “I had my first checkup this morning. They didn’t like the way the last chest tube looked – thought it was infected. Put me on some antibiotics, and then did a few X-rays, and hopefully we get this solved – fast.”
The setback came just as Askren had begun showing signs of progress, working with small dumbbells and stationary bikes while rebuilding strength after losing 50 pounds during his hospital stay. He had even started relearning basic movements like walking, making the infection’s timing particularly cruel.
Despite the challenges, Askren maintained his resilience. “It wasn’t going to always be all the way up. So, hopefully this is a small hiccup, and I’m back home getting stronger again,” he reflected, demonstrating the mental toughness that carried him through years of elite competition.
The community response highlights a troubling reality facing many athletes when serious health crises strike. While Askren built a successful career as both an Olympic wrestler and professional mixed martial artist, the astronomical costs of major medical procedures can overwhelm even those who achieved significant success in their sports.
Wiza’s words perhaps best captured the evening’s deeper meaning: “I also hope Ben knows how loved and supported he is.” The fundraiser represented more than financial assistance, it was a community’s way of giving back to someone who had invested so much in others throughout his career as coach, mentor, and friend.
The wrestling tournament may have lasted just one evening, but its impact reflects something far more enduring. The way sport creates connections that transcend competition, binding communities together when their champions need them most.
