Olympic gold medalist Kyle Snyder was arrested last Friday during an undercover prostitution operation conducted by Columbus Police.
Snyder, 29, was among 16 men apprehended in the sting, according to confirmation from Columbus Police on Monday. Local news outlet 10TV first broke the story.
The decorated wrestler allegedly responded to an online escort advertisement posted by law enforcement around 8:15 p.m. on Friday. After exchanging calls and text messages with what he believed was an escort service, Snyder arranged to meet at a local hotel.
Upon arrival, police reports indicate that Snyder paid cash to an undercover officer and solicited or*l sex. He was immediately arrested for engaging in prostitution but was released at the scene. He is scheduled to appear in court on May 19.
This incident marks a startling turn for one of America’s most celebrated athletes. Snyder made history at the 2016 Olympics as the youngest American wrestler ever to win gold. His illustrious career includes a silver medal from the 2020 Olympics, although he was unable to secure a third medal during the 2024 Paris games.
Beyond his Olympic achievements, Snyder boasts an impressive resume with seven World Championship medals and three National titles earned during his time at Ohio State University.
Prior to this incident, Snyder had recently signed with Real American Freestyle, a new wrestling promotion founded by WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan and former WWE executive Eric Bischoff.
The wrestling community awaits further developments as Snyder prepares for his upcoming court appearance.
