Sam Hazewinkel

Sport: Wrestling

Nation: United States of America

DOB: April 4, 1984

Career Highlights: Hazewinkel ended years of disappointment and runner-up finishes by beating Nick Simmons in a thrilling match at the Olympic trials to qualify for his first Summer Games. Hazewinkel, whose father (Jim) and uncle (Dave) wrestled for the 1968 and 1972 U.S. Greco-Roman wrestling teams, made the switch to freestyle from Greco-Roman after finishing third at the 2004 Olympic trials and second in 2008. The move paid off as Hazewinkel finished second at the 2011 Pan American championships and came through with the gold medal at the 2012 championships in March. Hazewinkel had a supremely successful Greco-Roman career but was unable to break through at the Olympic trials. He was a four-time All-American at the University of Oklahoma, where he was the NCAA runner-up his senior year following three straight third-place finishes. He was the U.S. national champion in 2005 and 2007 and won the World University Championship in 2008. Hazewinkel wrestled for his father in high school at Pensacola Christian Academy, where he finished his career 140-0 and was a three-time Florida state champion. Hazewinkel has been married to his wife, Rachel, for six years. He earned a degree in communications from Oklahoma.

Olympic History: None