Olympic wrestling champion Sarah Hildebrandt has reaffirmed her determination to compete at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics despite enduring a serious injury during her comeback season.
The American freestyle wrestler, who won gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics in the women’s 50kg category, had initially announced her retirement before deciding to return to the mat earlier this year. Hildebrandt admitted she struggled with the decision for months before realising her passion for the sport remained strong.
After resuming full-time training in early 2026, Hildebrandt made an impressive return at the U.S. Open, dominating her first four matches by technical superiority to reach the 53kg final. However, disaster struck during the championship bout when she suffered severe tears to her adductor, groin and abdominal muscles.
Despite the setback, the 32-year-old remains optimistic about her future and believes the injury came early enough in the Olympic cycle to recover fully before LA28. Hildebrandt said the Los Angeles Olympics remain her “external goal” as she continues rehabilitation and evaluates her return timeline.
The veteran wrestler also revealed that fear initially held her back from making a comeback after retirement. However, she eventually decided not to let uncertainty dictate her future and chose to continue competing in the sport she loves.
Hildebrandt is now aiming for a return to competition later in 2026, with hopes of once again representing the United States on home soil at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
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