Ben Askren - why didn't he have more international success?

[Jimmy Cinnabon 265]

He was a dominant of a NCAA wrestler as Taylor...yet he had very little international success in freestyle and the Olympics.  Why?

[BuckyBadger 11]

He did make the 08 team shortly after graduating which is pretty impressive given the short transition time he had to do freestyle.

Then he stopped after the Olympics for MMA. So it’s not really clear whether he would have jumped levels enough to compete with Burroughs or the Russians etc.

Edited April 6 by BuckyBadger

[newuser69 15]

He probably would have benefited under the current rules, wasnt he active during the wonderful ball grab era?

[Lunaticfringe 31]

He was an unreal mat wrestler, good on his feet but not known for it. Ball grab era as well. 

[Sublime607 119]

21 hours ago, Jimmy Cinnabon said:

He was a dominant of a NCAA wrestler as Taylor...yet he had very little international success in freestyle and the Olympics.  Why?

Funk isn't the best style for freestyle. To much possibility for exposure points. If Askren kept with it I'm sure he would have adjusted he's just that mentally tuff.