Olympic Champion Kyle Snyder Arrested in Columbus Prostitution Sting
- Victor Nwoko
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
Olympic gold medalist and former Ohio State wrestling star Kyle Snyder was arrested Friday night during a prostitution sting operation conducted by Columbus police on the city's North Side. The 29-year-old athlete was one of 16 men charged in the operation targeting individuals attempting to solicit sexual services.
According to authorities, the Columbus Division of Police posted online advertisements posing as escort services. Snyder allegedly responded to one of the ads around 8:15 p.m., making contact with undercover officers via call and text. He later arrived at a local hotel, where police say he paid cash to an undercover officer and requested oral sex before being taken into custody.
Snyder was released from the scene and is scheduled to appear in court on May 19 to face the misdemeanor charge of engaging in prostitution.
Snyder rose to national prominence as a collegiate wrestler at Ohio State University, where he captured three consecutive NCAA heavyweight championships from 2016 to 2018. He was also a key member of the Buckeyes' 2015 team that won the NCAA national title.
In 2016, Snyder made history at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, becoming the youngest American wrestler to win Olympic gold at just 20 years old. He went on to win silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and placed fourth in the 2024 Paris Games. He was inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024 for his outstanding contributions to the university's wrestling program.
Snyder's arrest comes as a shock to the wrestling community and his many fans, marking a sharp contrast to the image of discipline and achievement he had maintained throughout his athletic career.
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