Olympic Folk Wrestling Champion Jordan Burroughs Sets Record For Seven Straight Gold Medals
Andrew Henderson
Updated on December 28, 2025
Jordan Burroughs earned his sixth world wrestling championship and added it to his Olympic victory in 2012 to become the first American wrestler to win seven global gold medals.
In the 79 kg division, which is not an Olympic weight class, Burroughs, 34, won each of his five battles over the previous two days at the world championships in Belgrade.
With his signature double leg takedown and a rematch of the global final that Burroughs also won last October, he defeated Iran’s Mohammad Nokhodi 4-2 on Friday.
Burroughs, who announced in June that he would retire after the 2024 Olympics (regardless of whether he made the team), had long hoped to surpass John Smith’s American record of six total Olympic and world titles.
Quick Facts:
| Name | Jordan Ernest Burroughs |
| Age | 34 years old |
| Birth Place | Camden, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Parents | Leroy and Janice Burroughs |
| Siblings | Four |
| Wife | Lauren Mariacher (m. 2013) |
| Kids | Beacon, Ora, Banner And Rise Burroughs |
| Net Worth | $4 million |
| Sponsors | Resilite, Athletic Brewing, and Sunkist Kids |
Jordan Burroughs And Wife Lauren Mariacher Met At 2011 NCAA Championship
The most accomplished wrestler not only has gained professional accolades from his sports career but has also found love that leads to a happy family now.
Basically, Jordan and his wife Lauren told their narrative on a 2013 website they made for their wedding.
Jordan and Lauren first connected at the 2011 NCAA Final. Jordan drew her attention even though she was there to watch her brother compete for American University.
Later, she added Jordan on Facebook, and they started chatting. They eventually became friends, and two years later, in October 2013, they were married.
In the same month, Jordan tweeted that marrying the woman of his dreams seemed like a more significant accomplishment than collecting gold medals.
Jordan And Wife Lauren Are In Their 30s
The pair have been married for almost nine years and are thought to have an age difference of one to two years. Jordan recently celebrated his birthday on July 18, making him 34 years old.
The wrestler posted a birthday message for his wife on May 14—two months before he celebrated his birthday. He said he feels fortunate to have Lauren as his wife.
The exact date of Lauren’s birth is still unclear; hence, her age is considered to be between 30 and 35 years old.
On the other hand, Burroughs was born in Camden, New Jersey, in the United States, in 1988. He is primarily from the Sicklerville neighborhood in Winslow Township, New Jersey.
The Couple Are Blessed With Four Children: Beacon, Ora, Banner And Rise
Jordan and his wife gave birth to their son Beacon on July 19, 2014, a few months after getting married. On June 11, 2016, extending their family, they welcomed a girl named Ora into the world.
Lauren miscarried in 2018, which was unfortunate for the couple expecting their third child. She wrote about the relevance of her miscarriage on her blog, claiming that it allowed her to reflect on life and her children more deeply.
Although the miscarriage was a traumatic event in Jordan and Lauren’s lives, it didn’t significantly impact them. The married couple focused on a better future and on growing their family.
Burroughs Third Child Was Born After He Won The Seventh Medal Of His Career
In 2019, Jordan announced the birth of his third child after winning the seventh medal of his career at the wrestling world championship. Lauren also disclosed the details while congratulating her husband on his bronze medal.
Rise, Jordan, and his wife’s third child was born in January 2020.
The wrestler and his wife make an effort to give their children names with meaning and symbolism. Rise was probably given that name to symbolize conquering challenges and tenacity.
Additionally, with his wife Lauren Mariacher, Burroughs shared the birth of their fourth child on social media, noting that “God’s timing is perfect.” On September 26, 2021, at 8:36 p.m., Banner Jordan Burroughs, who was 7 pounds, 10 ounces, was born.
The Burroughs Family Proud Of His Olympic Gold
Jordan Burroughs, the most significant American wrestler of all time, shared his victory image on his Instagram page an hour ago. Since then, many of his friends and family have congratulated him on his success.
The Winslow Township High School alumnus won the 79 kg freestyle world championship on Friday in Belgrade, Serbia, for his seventh Olympic or world gold medal.
Burroughs completed a victory lap around both competition mats while hoisting the American flag. After relocating from Lincoln, Nebraska, to Philadelphia, Burroughs has been playing for the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center for more than a year.
After going up from 74 kg, where he spent most of his career, he won his first at 79 kilograms and his sixth world title last year.
His Father Leroy Burroughs Also Pursued An Athletic Career In His Era
Burroughs was the youngest of his parents’ four children and spent his childhood in the hamlet of Sicklerville, New Jersey.
He recalls how his father’s support enabled him to be a successful Olympian. In essence, his father, who is in his 60s, was also active in sports, but his Olympic career failed.
His son recalled being a little child and seeing his father ready for social occasions. He sat and watched as his father put his clothes together, giving the world the best version of himself.
On the other hand, he commended and thanked his father for having faith in him and making him the man he is today.
Flowrestler’s Impressive 2022 Net Worth In Millions
Thanks to his stellar Olympic record, Burroughs appears to have a substantial fortune worth millions. Fullcelebs.com estimated his net worth at $4 million. His prosperous freestyle and former folkstyle wrestling careers have contributed significantly to his income and riches.
Jordan earned a spot in his second Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2016. He was defeated twice and didn’t win a medal despite being the top-ranked athlete in the world and having a solid chance to win the Olympic gold medal in 2016.
For the eighth consecutive year, Jordan qualified for the World Championships in freestyle wrestling, earning a spot on the United States World Team.
Likewise, he competed in Budapest, Hungary. He won a bronze medal, bringing his total to seven world or Olympic medals, tying American great Dave Schultz for the second-most awards in American history.
His Additional Earnings From Endorsements Deal
Burroughs has even received press coverage and endorsements usually given to gymnasts, swimmers, and track athletes. Currently, Resilite, Athletic Brewing, and Sunkist Kids are his sponsors.
Since its beginnings in 1959 as a maker of wrestling mats, Resilite has expanded to become the industry leader in protective mats & padding for wrestling, gymnastics, cheerleading, pre-school, martial arts, and more.
Similarly, Athletic Brewing focuses on using premium, natural ingredients to provide delicious non-alcoholic beverages that are appropriate for any occasion.
The Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club seeks to meet the needs of wrestlers preparing for world and Olympic championships, open doors for women to compete in all levels of the sport and create youth programs to meet a greater need in underserved areas.
The Freestyle Wrestler Earned $250,000 In The 74-Kilogram Division
The New York Times reported in 2016 that Burroughs won a gold medal in freestyle wrestling in the 74-kg (163-pound) division at the London Games four years prior and was paid $250,000 for his achievement. He receives $500,000 for winning the same medal at the Rio Games.
Along with other things, he paid for his wedding with the money he received from the London payout.
His Olympic and world championship titles have brought approximately $415,000 since 2011. “It’s important for us to perform at our best at the Olympic Games since there isn’t a lot of money flying about in the sport,” he remarked.